Pres. Bush urges countries to avoid protectionism

President George W. Bush is in Peru for what will likely be his final international summit while in office.

By: Associated Press | Alabama's13.com
Published: November 22, 2008

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LIMA, Peru (AP) - President George W. Bush is in Peru for what will likely be his final international summit while in office.

Bush is pushing to get the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit to endorse a global action plan in which nations would pledge to not set up new trade barriers over the next 12 months.

He's asking the countries to push for a broad outline of a new trade deal by the end of the year.

Free trade is expected to be the topic Bush focuses on during his speech to business leaders Saturday. He also talked it up during his weekly radio address today.

Bush says all countries must focus on the three great forces that drive economic growth -- "free markets, free trade and free people."