ROME, Feb 14 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Geithner said on Saturday governments had to respond forcefully to the worst global economic downturn in decades while sticking to commitments to free trade.
In a statement after a meeting with counterparts from the G7 group of large industrialised economies in Rome, Geithner said: "We are confronted with a broader and deeper slowdown than has been experienced in decades."
Geithner, making his G7 debut in the role, also responded in sort to concerns that recession is breeding protectionism.
"All countries need to sustain a commitment to open trade and investment policies which are essential to economc growth and prosperity," he said.
Overnight, the U.S. Congress approved a $787-billion economic stimulus package, which would require public infrastructure projects use U.S. steel and goods under a "Buy America" clause that is worrying some G7 partners.
(Reporting by David Lawder, Writing by Brian Love, Editing by Richard Balmforth)
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