United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) Chief Executive Scott Davis on Thursday warned lawmakers against implementing trade protectionist measures and called for advocates to increase lobbying efforts favoring trade.

"Global trade has become the emotional punching bag of many politicians and protectionists," Davis said.

In an address to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Davis said America and its trading partners would be "making a huge mistake" by employing trade restrictions as a strategy to weather the economic downturn. "Increased global trade could be the number one antidote to the current financial crisis," he said.

Davis' comments follow passage of President Barack Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus package, which contains a provision that requires U.S. companies to buy only American materials purchased for construction projects receiving stimulus funds - including bridge repairs, new schools and upgrades to government office buildings.

After several U.S. trading partners expressed concern about trade protectionism, lawmakers amended the measure to ensure it wouldn't violate any international trade obligations. Moving forward, Davis said it's imperative that free-trade advocates adequately inform Congress on trade issues and take advantage of the administration's transition.

"We have to reach out and engage with the administration, the Legislature, the labor unions, and all other engaged in the process," he said.

According to Davis, myths about globalization and the perceived tone set by the buy American measure are core reasons businesses remain concerned about the state of free trade.

"The facts are clearly on the side of trade, but popular perception clearly is not. And it's no surprise that politics follows closely on the heels of perception," he said.

Davis, describing free trade as compelling, said trade proponents have previously been unable to "clearly articulate the facts" favoring global transactions.

Davis said international trade isn't the major contributing factor to U.S. job reduction, rebutting a notion held by some free-trade rivals. Using his company as an example, Davis added, "Each time we add 40 new international packages in the U.S. - in other words, 40 packages imported or exported by our customers - we create another new U.S. job somewhere in our system. Last year we grew the international portion of our business by more than 10 percent, creating thousands of new job opportunities at UPS for U.S. citizens."

Davis later added, the World Trade Organization estimates that eliminating one-third of trade restrictions throughout manufacturing, agriculture and service sectors "would add $613 billion to the world economy." He also noted that the U.S. service sector - which includes financial services, telecommunications and express delivery services - had a trade surplus of $144 billion last year.

Nonetheless, lawmakers continue to face public scrutiny and pressure from companies on various trade issues.

A top political task, among several, left for the Obama administration is getting U.S. trade representative-designee Ron Kirk appointed. Kirk's confirmation hearing will be held March 5, the office of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said Thursday.

A longtime free-trader, Kirk's nomination tilts against Obama's pick for Labor secretary, Hilda Solis, a free-trade opponent. Solis was confirmed as Secretary of Labor on Tuesday.

-By Darrell A. Hughes, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6684; darrell.hughes@dowjones.com