After seven years and at least seven big meetings, nations looked closer than ever to a successful conclusion of the Doha trade round in Geneva this week. But the round collapsed with the finish line seemingly in sight. Not an auspicious event especially given the protectionist and populist surge running through American politics these days.

Here is The Wall Street Journal with a good editorial and news item on what the demise of the Doha free trade round means . . . and how we got here.

We'll be discussing many of these important trade and globalization topics at this year's Aspen Summit taking place August 17-19.