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Trade is vital to overcome the recession, says the representative of one of this country's largest trading partners.

NIGEL SHEINWALD July 31, 2009

WASHINGTON — The economic downturn has affected many nations, and these continue to be difficult times for many hard-working families in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Bringing about economic recovery remains a top priority for governments around the world.

But as we do so, we must remember that the road to prosperity lies not in quietly closing our doors to the world economy but in loudly proclaiming that our markets are "open for global business."

Foreign investment and trade remain among the most powerful drivers of economic growth in our time.

The benefits are real for all our communities. Britain is the largest foreign investor in the United States, and British companies in the United States employ nearly a million Americans. These are skilled jobs, too: average annual pay of $70,000, which is over 30 percent above average.

Alongside investment is the importance of trade in giving consumers access to lower-priced goods and services, and allowing export-oriented firms to expand into new markets overseas.

At the same time, international trade and investment have lifted millions out of poverty in the developing world.

The bilateral trade and investment relationship between the United States and the European Union is the largest, most complex and most important in the world.

Although the European Union and the United States together represent just 12 percent of the world's population, we account for 40 percent of the world's trade and 50 percent of its gross domestic product.

These are not just abstract numbers. Locally, the United Kingdom is a large importer of goods produced in Maine. In 2008 alone, we imported $50 million in products from your state.

From 2006 to 2008, over $1 billion worth of U.K. goods passed through Maine's ports. Without a firm commitment to open trade, much of the vibrant exchange through Portland, New England's busiest trade port, would be at risk.

Open trade and investment is also the way for innovators in new industries to flourish. The U.K.-Maine link can be just as strong here.

For example, Maine has already demonstrated its leadership role in developing New England's clean technology sector, a sector that will drive America's transition to a sustainable "new energy economy."

From the University of Maine's bio-energy research projects, to new offshore wind energy initiatives sponsored by Gov. Baldacci, the innovators in your state recognize the first-mover advantage in this exciting new market.

As the largest producer of offshore wind power in the world, the United Kingdom shares Maine's ambition, and we have many leading low-carbon companies in wave, solar, advanced batteries and built-environment technology.

The United Kingdom and Maine should increase our collaboration in these areas where we share a market lead.

But these are extremely tough times for all our economies, and there is an understandable reflex to protect domestic industries and markets.

Worldwide, there have been thankfully few old-fashioned hikes in import tariffs.

However, there have been some worrying signs of creeping protectionism in the form of subsidies, legislation and other support packages that could choke international trade.

At the London G20 Summit in April, global leaders renewed a pledge not to impose new trade restrictions. President Obama, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and others repeated this declaration at the expanded G8 Summit in Italy in July.

However, a World Trade Organization report released several weeks ago identified no less than 83 trade-restricting measures implemented by countries around the world in the past three months alone.

No one country is blameless – Europe's restoration of export subsidies for dairy products earlier this year was a regrettable step.

Likewise, the "Buy American" provision in the federal stimulus and...