An article in today's Politico describes foreign firms' nervousness at the possibility of liberal protectionist economic policies.

When 2,500 Volvo employees went on strike in February, company executives knew they faced a difficult situation at their Dublin, Va., truck plant. But they didn’t know their political troubles would go global.

Within days, Democratic presidential rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton released statements backing the strikers and slamming conditions at the plant. And media outlets around the world picked up their comments.

“What [the candidates] were saying about all this money we invested here and what a lousy employer we are, I have to tell you, it set us back probably two or three years,” said Paul Vikner, vice chairman of Mack Trucks, a North American subsidiary of the Swedish company Volvo.

Vikner isn’t only annoyed by the presidential candidates. Foreign companies with large American branches are increasingly worried about a tide of protectionist sentiments being made by lawmakers, candidates and lobbying groups.

Merely the threat of liberal protectionist policies being enacted has caused foreign investors to become skittish about doing business in the American economy.  Actually following through would be a whole lot worse.