The report points to a failure by the G20 countries to reducing trade barriers in addition to a 123 new trade restrictions introduced over the last eight months, a rise of just over 25%. In the light of these results, the EU calls on G20 Members to implement the pledge more effectively by reinforcing transparency and enhancing the timely and full notification of all measures.

The EU identified a staggering increase in protectionism around the world with 123 new trade restrictions introduced over the last eight months – a rise of just over 25%, according to the Commission's ninth report on potentially trade-restrictive measures. Between September 2011 and 1 May 2012, on average more than 15 new measures were introduced each month as compared to less than 12 new measures per month the year before. In October 2011, the eight Commission's report on Trade Restrictive Measures already warned against rise of protectionism within G20.

In addition, the Commission also highlights that the state of G20 countries' compliance with regards to the removal of existing measures remains clearly insufficient. Besides, restrictions affecting foreign direct investment, such as Argentina's decision to expropriate 51% of YPF shares owned by the Spanish company Repsol, substantially impact EU investors' confidence to invest abroad as it increases unpredictability.

The report also gives special mention to Russia which deserves close scrutiny as one of the most frequent users of trade-restrictive measures that may not be in conformity with its obligations as an upcoming member of the WTO. Therefore, the EU calls on G20 Members to implement the pledge more effectively by reinforcing transparency and enhancing the timely and full notification of all measures, which would enable closer monitoring of protectionism. This issue will be addressed at the upcoming G20 Mexico Summit on 18 and 19 June 2012.