APEC summit's free trade faith is questioned, protectionism looms

As global crisis worsens, APEC summit's free trade faith is questioned, protectionism looms
By FRANK BAJAK, Associated Press Writer
9:40 AM PST, November 25, 2008
LIMA, Peru (AP) _ Leaders of 21 nations that represent half the global economy fear a raft of new protectionist barriers will strangle commerce as the world slides into a frightening recession.

There are growing signs that developing countries will erect protectionist barriers to weather the crisis, partly because they have seen that time after time, "free trade" agreements have focused chiefly on beating rivals to market.