TOKYO, Japan -- Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa warned Tuesday against a return to the protectionism of the 1930s -- seen as a catalyst for the Great Depression.

"We've learnt from the Great Depression that it would lead to disaster if a law similar to the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act comes up," Nakagawa said, referring to a law passed in 1930 that imposed sweeping rises in US import duties.

He said finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of Seven industrial powers would discuss how to prevent protectionism when they meet Friday in Rome for talks on the global economic crisis.

"Previous G7 and G20 meetings have confirmed that we shouldn't get mired in protectionism," Nakagawa told reporters.

All members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) must abide by its rules, he added.

The United States was recently criticized by trade partners for a "Buy American" clause in a massive stimulus package, which has since been watered down.

Supporters of free trade fear that the global economic crisis and the subsequent wave of job cuts could prompt governments to pursue policies that favor national companies and reduce global trade flows.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urged G7 finance ministers Monday to act "promptly to restore health to the global economy," the Treasury said in a statement.

The G7 -- the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada -- in recent months has taken a back seat to the Group of 20, which also includes leading emerging economies such as China and Brazil.