World Bank urges tougher G20 stand on protectionism

"Leaders must not heed the siren-song of protectionist fixes, whether for trade, stimulus packages or bailouts," World Bank Group President Robert Zoellick said in a statement.

"Economic isolationism can lead to a negative spiral of events such as those we saw in the 1930s, which made a bad situation much, much worse."

G20 leaders, meeting in Washington in November amid the growing global financial crisis, promised not to impose any new trade-restricting measures for 12 months.

But since then, 17 members of the G20 and additional other countries have implemented a total of 47 measures that restrict trade, the bank said its research showed.

Increased tariffs account for about one-third of the new measures and include Russia hiking duties on used autos and Ecuador boosting duties on more than 600 items, the bank said.

Argentina has imposed new "nontariff barriers" on imports of auto parts, textiles, TVs, toys, shoes and leather goods and Indonesia has said certain foreign goods -- including garments, footwear, toys, electronics, food and beverage -- would be only permitted in five ports and airports, the bank said.

"Subsidies proposed for the auto industry have proliferated and total some $48 billion worldwide, mostly ($42.7 billion) in high-income countries," the bank said.

That includes a U.S. direct subsidy of $17.4 billion to its big three automakers and other subsidies provided by Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom, China, Argentina, Brazil, Sweden and Italy, the bank said.

At next G20 leaders meeting in London in early April, countries should commit to providing the World Trade Organization with quarterly reports on new trade restrictions and industrial and agricultural subsidies, the bank said.