The cost of President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan is now above $900 billion in the Senate after the chamber added money for medical research and tax breaks for car purchases. Meanwhile, Obama cautioned Congress that the final version of the economic recovery package should not include protectionist language that could trigger a trade war. The cost of the package could go higher on Wednesday if a tax break for homebuyers is made more generous, even as centrists in both parties promise to clear away spending items that won't jump-start the economy right away. In an interview on CNN, Obama signaled a willingness to drop items that «may not really stimulate the economy right now.» He also signaled he'll try to remove «buy American» provisions in the legislation to avoid a possible trade war. The $819 billion stimulus bill that passed the House requires the use of American-made iron and steel for public construction projects. The Senate is considering even stronger language. Obama, without commenting specifically on the wording, told Fox News he thought it would be a «mistake ... at a time when worldwide trade is declining, for us to start sending a message that somehow we're just looking after ourselves and not concerned with world trade.» Speaking to ABC News, Obama said, «I think we need to make sure that any provisions that are in there are not going to trigger a trade war.»
