CNN

President George W. Bush attends the APEC Summitt in Lima, Peru.

LIMA, Peru (CNN) – President George W. Bush, in what could be his final overseas trip as president, called on international leaders to continue his administration's push for free trade despite the global financial crisis.

"One of the enduring lessons of the Great Depression is that global protectionism is a path to global economic ruin," Bush told the annual meeting of the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in the capital, Lima.

"I recognize I'm leaving office in two months," Bush said as he discussed the Doha trade talks, which were launched in 2001 to help liberalize international trade policies, "but nevertheless this administration will push hard ... so that Doha can be completed and so we can send a message - we refuse to accept protectionism in the 21st century."

Touting his record on free trade, Bush said, "Expanding trade and investment hs been one of the highest priorities of my administration.

"When I took office, America had free trade agreements in force with only three nations. Today we have agreements in force with 14."

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