Free trade rapidly becoming an endangered species?

This week the economist writes about a growing concern regarding the safety of free trade around the world. With calls throughout the world calling for greater government regulation in result of the current crisis, protectionist trade policies are rapidly becoming more popular. This is terrible news, especially to nations who have widely relied on exports to increase economic growth (i.e. China, Germany, Japan). The precedent of isolationism has been proven and widely promoted as a false hope to nations seeking an advantage. The Economist provides the incident of the infamous Smoot Hawley Tariff Act of the 1930's, which caused massive destruction to employment and a massive price increase of foreign goods. With many firms and consumers reeling from the crisis, the last thing needed is an impact on prices and employment. With the rapid political shift in attitude within governments around the world , it is a dangerous conception that free trade will be pushed aside in favor of more mercantilist policies. http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12815617