While the leaders at the recent G-20 meetings went to great lengths to appear united in their efforts to battle the ongoing financial crisis, a different story is emerging from behind the scenes.

A recent report by the World Bank, “Trade Protection: Incipient but Worrisome Trends,” indicates that 17 of the G-20 have implemented 47 measures “whose effect is to restrict trade at the expense of other countries.” For instance, Russia raised tariffs on used cars, and Indonesia restricted five categories of products, including footwear and toys, to just five ports and airports. And, as in the U.S., a number of countries, including Canada and the UK, have provided direct or indirect subsidies to their domestic auto industries.

Protectionist practices regarding employment also are occurring. Malaysia, for instance, banned companies from hiring foreign workers in factories, stores, and restaurants.

To be sure, the effects so far likely have been marginal, the report continues. The fact that so many companies’ supply chains depend on business partners and components that hail from around the world is likely to continue to hinder stronger protectionist efforts. Even so, the actions already taken “… are of considerable importance for particular exporters shut out of markets,” the report notes.

Protectionist measures appear as tempting fixes at times, like now, when many companies are struggling to survive as customers’ checkbooks remain closed. However, history has shown they help just a few organizations, while harming many more. “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,” said World Bank Group president Robert Zoellick, in a release. ###