Czech protectionism

Retailers shouldn't be surprised that Industry Minister Milan Urban cracked down on them with a vengeance this week. After they snubbed him at a breakfast on Dec. 15, he said he'd find a way to get their attention. He told LN that the ČOI commercial inspectorate would be enlisted to send the message. And sure enough, ČOI descended this week on retail chains suspected of using dirty tricks to attract shoppers. Urban is acting like a discarded lover but is also in the lead of a new wave of protectionism. He wants the retailers to abandon common global practices and show special treatment to local suppliers. Agriculture Minister Jaroslav Palas (by harassing milk exporters) and Transport Minister Milan Šimonovský (by favoring Czech truckers) are also on the bandwagon. They're all trying to circumvent the very market liberalization that EU entry was supposed to bring. [international foreigners Czech Republic competition hypermarkets]