With global economies shrinking and companies facing greater competitive threats inside and outside of their domestic markets, protectionism is growing in some countries as they attempt to keep their economies healthy and their citizens working. The global recession is putting greater pressure on trade practices around the world as countries try to keep the balance of trade in their favor and cash flowing in. This is also putting greater stress on already negotiated trade agreements that were penned during a period of trade expansion.

With most countries witnessing a reduction in productive capacity and demand destruction for most products there is a need for better trade practices within countries and between countries to alleviate global economic problems. The following pages will examine various issues or news involving better trade practices being considered or enacted to foster better trade relations between companies and countries.

With the ever-strengthening global economy, it is more important than ever to be able to have effective methods of trading. The days of being isolated and self-sufficient no longer works in today's world market. The chance of a nation "going it alone" isn't likely to be an effective strategy. To need for countries to buy and trade among themselves has never been higher. Cooperation is important to keep the lines of productivity moving forward.

Equally blurred are the lines between companies. The need for better trades between companies has reached a critical mass. It is no longer unusual to see companies who were once competitors join together in some sort of alliance to solve a problem. The willingness to band together and make a better trade is quite necessary in today's economic environment.

The ability to practice better trades may be the difference between surviving the current recessionary trends and build a solid base of success when things turn around. The downtrend has certainly caused countries and companies to look at things in a different way. Some of those ideas won't work, but many of them are likely to yield fruit and create an environment for better trades.

The following information is provided with an attempt to bring current initiatives surrounding better trade practices to light without commenting on, or assessing the actual benefits that may be achieved through these projects. Readers must make their own assessments as to how well these initiatives will achieve the goals they have set for themselves.