TT: Relations EU - USA: Trading issues: Disputes about protectionism etc.

EU-US trade issues have long been contentious, independent of who resides in the White House. So there are plenty of trade issues for President Obama and EU leaders to discuss in Prague today. As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama sounded at times as if Europe should be prepared for a protectionist backlash. Since taking office, though, he's moved to avoid disputes. Nevertheless -- in the midst of the worst economic recession in decades, with unemployment in the US rapidly rising -- pushing a free-trade agenda is not necessarily easy -- even if the president was even so inclined. And the president has incorporated a "Buy American" clause into his economic stimulus package. +++SYN MAZ+++