In Toronto Sunday, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty restated what he had said on Saturday, that any protectionist moves by the United States or other countries would meet resistance around the world but Canada would not erect trade barriers of its own.
"There is a clear consensus here that protectionism needs to be avoided at all costs, that protectionist is a direction we need not go," Flaherty said during a conference call after a meeting with other finance ministers in Davos, Switzerland.
In response, newly appointed United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton stated, "So you don't want any protectionism. That's OK with the U.S. We now announce to the world at large, we no longer protect Canada. Have at it!"
