On protectionism.

• Author: Rees, Matthew
• Position: U.S. Economy - Brief article

"According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which is part of the Department of Commerce, annual foreign direct investment in the United States peaked in 2000 at $321.3 billion. Representing money that foreign companies invest in U.S. business operations, the number tumbled to $167 billion in 2001, the year of the 9/11 attacks, and continued sliding, to $84 billion in 2002 and $64 billion in 2003. The total has since been making a choppy recovery of sorts, including a big gain in 2006, to $184 billion."

"Last year's number, though promising, is only part of the story...