posted on Feb, 24 2005 @ 06:10 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration indicated Thursday that some progress had been made in narrowing differences that had stalled talks
aimed at creating a Western Hemisphere free trade zone.
The effort to create a Free Trade Area of the Americas, which would involve every country in the Western Hemisphere except Cuba, has been stalled for
months with Brazil and the United States remaining far apart on a number of issues including U.S. protections for American farmers and Brazil's laws
covering the protection of intellectual property rights.
Under this approach, which was devoloped at a ministerial meeting in Miami in November 2003, all countries would sign on to basic trade liberalization
while those who want to go further and achieve full abolition of trade barriers envisioned by a free trade agreement would have the ability to do
so.
NY TIMES
I must have been living in China for the past three years. I didn't know that the FTAA was experiencing difficulties. It looks like things are going
to be wrapped up before 2007.
What about an Eastern Hemisphere-Wide Trade Zone? Would that have to be the marrying of APEC and the EU together? And what about Africa?
Does anyone know anything about why Brazil is the last bastion of resistance to the FTAA. It's also interesting to note that all countries except
Cuba will be included.