Analysis
By David Schepp BBC News Online North America business reporter

As world leaders gear up for this year's G8 meeting in Canada, BBC News Online examines why the US appears so out of step with the rest of its partners.

As the world's sole superpower, the US stands as an easy target for ridicule - much like its current president.

European states are equally if not more protectionist of their agricultural sectors and strategic industries

Geoffrey Herrera Temple University

America's adversaries and even its allies take a degree of pleasure in pointing out incongruities in American policies and the man who fashions them.

The criticism has fallen especially fast and hard from US allies in recent months after President George W Bush proposed new tariffs on imports of steel and softwood lumber, and signed a controversial new farming bill.

The US parts ways on several other key issues with its European, Canadian and Japanese friends, leaving it to appear a lone wolf to the rest of the Group of Eight (G8) nations, which are set to convene this week in the western Canadian province of Alberta.

Protecting interests

The European Union (EU) has denounced recently imposed US steel tariffs as staunch protectionism, and has been equally critical of aid to US farmers, which became law last month.

Critics say the measures contradict Mr Bush's own call for expanded free markets, especially among countries of North and South America.

Often times [Americans] are for free trade when it's to our advantage

Warren Haffar Arcadia University

He has also touted free trade as a way for poor nations to develop their economies and improve living standards.

Given its recent support of import tariffs to protect its own industries, the US would seem to back free-market policies only when they benefit its interests.

Nevertheless, as the richest and most powerful country in the world, US policies can't help but look different, argues Geoffrey Herrera, a professor of political science at Temple University in Philadelphia.

"European states are equally if not more protectionist of their agricultural sectors and strategic industries," he says.

The perception changes, however, when the ostensible leader of the global free-trade movement acts so blatantly to protect its own interests.

Indeed, the protectionist tendencies of the Bush administration are defensible given that no country enjoys completely open and free markets.

Brutal markets

In promoting free trade, Mr Bush walks a fine line. Even as he pursues his agenda, he also must weigh the needs of his US constituency.

Mr Bush walks a fine line

In doing so, he must focus on national interests, including jobs, unemployment and protection for Americans.

These are, after all, the chief concerns of government, and if it means protecting some markets, then so be it, says Warren Haffar, director of the international peace and conflict resolution programme at Arcadia University in suburban Philadelphia.

"Often times [Americans] are for free trade when it's to our advantage," he says. "And we're not when it hurts us."

He hastens to add, however, that markets are notoriously cruel. The least efficient producer gets cast aside, a phenomenon with which the US is all too familiar.

"If you're really talking about a free international marketplace... US industry is going to take a hit as well," Mr Haffar says. "That's part of the process."

Going it alone

To be sure, part of the reason Mr Bush has come under such criticism for his policies is that they are much more conservative than his predecessor, Bill Clinton.

G8 members

Britain Canada France Germany Italy Japan Russia United States

After being courted by the US for eight years during Mr Clinton's term, most members of the G8 are still coming to grips with a far more pragmatic Bush administration.

"The Clinton administration reasoned it could forestall the emergence of competition by trying to avoid looking threatening," says Temple University's Herrera.

Mr Bush has taken the opposite tack, however, positioning itself as a force to be dealt with, he says.

"The US looks like it is going it alone because the Bush administration and the European administrations disagree on the very substance of policy, domestic and foreign," Mr Herrera says.

Given that anyone has the potential to be a competitor, and therefore a threat to American dominance, it is likely the US will disagree with everyone at some point.

Reaching consensus

One other point to consider is the attacks of 11 September not only had a profound effect on the way the US goes about its business but the way in which it perceives itself.

In meeting with his fellow G8 leaders this week in Kananaskis, Mr Bush will once again stress that national security and international security are now one and the same for the US.

In doing so, he concedes the US needs the help of its allies more than ever.

While Canada, Europe and Japan may rail against the US on its trade policies, acts of terrorism remain a far greater threat than tariffs.

To assure peace and prosperity in their own countries, the other members of the G8 may have to set aside some of their own concerns to help the world's remaining superpower in its bid to thwart terror and promote peace.