President Obama is beginning to take on the mantle of an embattled and potentially protectionist leader with this comment in Yokohama today.

My interest is less politics and more Banks. Such inward looking approaches will inevitably result in inward looking institutions within the US, especially those with government ownership, or essentially government protection.

BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11748433i

Addressing business executives in Yokohama, President Obama said the economic crisis had shown the limits of depending on US consumers and Asian exporters to drive growth.