Moreover, governments began to abuse these loopholes for protectionist ends: anti-dumping cases and import-restricting regulations proliferated.

ECONOMIST: At daggers drawn

EU's anti-dumping cases against Polish and Hungarian steel may be only the first of many.

ECONOMIST: Central Europe

Last year, the administration acted swiftly to speed up the steel industry's anti-dumping cases.

ECONOMIST: Steel scrap

The new wave of anti-dumping cases is particularly alarming because protectionists are pushing at an open door.

ECONOMIST: Unfair protection | The

An upsurge in anti-dumping cases is likely in Latin America, especially if Brazil devalues, as Colombia and Ecuador already have.

ECONOMIST: Creeping protection

Even unsuccessful dumping cases are a tax on trade: they typically tie companies up for over a year, and impose huge legal costs, particularly in America.

ECONOMIST: Unfair protection

Anti-dumping cases have tripled since the 1980s (see chart).

ECONOMIST: Trade-remedy laws are damaging the world trade system

The industry has also launched a further 20 anti-dumping and ten anti-subsidy cases against 18 countries.

ECONOMIST: Standing up to steel

Although illegal dumping of waste is one of the most visible of crimes, relatively few cases come before the courts.

BBC: Rubbish dumped by a sign that reads "No Dumping"