HANOI. Oct 9: The United States and other countries must resist protectionist sentiment if the world is to emerge from its current troubles, the president of the US Chamber of Commerce said Friday, says AP.

Thomas J Donohue also urged an overhaul of the international financial structure and continued economic reforms in Asia that include lower taxes, open markets and greater legal and financial transparency. Japan also has to put its house in order, he said.

We understand that the re-gion's economies are dealing with tough issues of adjustment. walking a fine line between economic necessity and what is politically possible." he said.

He said a "growing isolationism" has taken root in Congress as both Republicans and Democrats gear up for next month's elections by appealing to core supporters who often oppose free-trade policies.

The US Chamber will lead a vigorous effort back home to build bridges — not walls — between our country and Asia," he told the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce semiannual meeting.

We haven't given up on the Asian miracle. We believe it can and will be rekindled — and we want to be a constructive partner in that effort.

Donohue said American can't afford to crawl into a shell. A third of Amercia’s exports go to Asia, supporting 4 million American jobs.

Those exports have dropped 14 per cent in the first half of the year, effecting the US economy.