Brown: We Need Free Trade for Global Recovery

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Byline: JOE MURPHY Political Editor

GORDON BROWN today called for a global push on free trade saying it was time for countries to "support thy neighbour".

His appeal came as the world's most powerful central banker predicted America's recession will end this year, opening hopes of a return to growth next year.

In a rare interview Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said: "This decline will begin to moderate and we'll begin to see a levelling off. We won't be back to full employment. But we will, I hope, see the end of these declines that have been so strong in a last couple of quarters.

"We'll see the recession coming to an end probably this …