Mr. Harris groups northern and southern farmers together as the victims of any General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade round to reduce protectionism in agriculture.

Economic Change Sought Over the last 18 months, the Government has also given priority to modernizing the economy, closing some inefficient state companies, offering others for sale and reducing protectionism.

Talks on reducing protectionism in tourism and transportation began last week with much enthusiasm for change but a general reluctance to dismantle barriers.

The irony behind all of the cries of protectionism is that the main thrust of the trade bill is to reduce protectionism worldwide.

But the decoupling is hard to start without a corresponding commitment to reduce protectionism.

International talks intended to reduce protectionism in tourism and transportation began last week, with much enthusiasm for change but a widespread reluctance to dismantle barriers.

Probably a promise to reduce protectionism in agriculture.

Its inherent protectionist qualities confound American efforts to reduce protectionism abroad and gain access to new markets.

Reluctantly at first and later with growing conviction, the Government also began opening up the economy, dismantling many subsidies, reducing protectionism, encouraging foreign investment and promising privatization of many state companies.

"We have brought the deficit down by 10 percentage points in five years, we're beginning to control free spending by provincial governments and we've reduced protectionism," a senior Government economist said.