This article examines the tension between global trade liberalisation and the pursuit of cultural policies by national governments. It reviews the background to the discourse over trade and culture and a range of domestic cultural policy measures. Attention is also focused on the emergent issues...

Issues between international trade and culture have existed since the end of World War I, when European countries introduced screen quotas to limit the effects of the ever-rising surge of films from the US. When states protect their culture-related industries they usually do so claiming the need...