Protectionism pledge 'litmus test' of G 20 meet: Britain

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LONDON, Mar 7 (AFP): A strong commitment to battle protectionism will be the "litmus test" of the G20 summit in London on April 2, Britain's envoy to the group said yesterday.

Mark Malloch Brown said the Group of 20 developed and developing nations had failed to produce a strong enough resolution on protectionism when it last met.

"The language in Washington in November didn't seem to stand the test of immediate action subsequently so it is going to need to be more credible than in Washington," he told foreign journalists in London.

"It is a real litmus test of the effectiveness of this summit that there (are) very strong commitments against protectionism," said Malloch Brown, a junior foreign minister.

A "Buy American" clause insisting companies use US-made goods in projects funded by President Barack Obama's stimulus package has caused alarm in some G20 countries.

The issue of protectionism will also be discussed at a meeting of business leaders from the G20 in London on March 18.

In a speech to the US Congress this week British Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged the world's top economy not to fall into the trap of turning inwards, saying that history had shown that "in the end, it protects no one."