Lula says FTAA ‘off agenda’

[bemildred]

The US-backed Americas-wide free trade pact is “off the agenda” for Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said yesterday, days before a visit by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

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Brazil’s support is considered essential to the FTAA because its economy, population and land mass all represent about 45 percent of South America’s total. But it has been stalled by disagreements over issues like access for Brazilian farm goods to US markets.

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The Mercosur customs union, which groups Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, has also been a priority for Lula.

“We tried to create awareness that it was possible to create another mechanism for our economies so that our economies do not remain dependent on the world’s biggest economy,” Lula said

MercoPress

[meganmonkey]

1. South America doesn't seem to want to play with us anymore

Good for them. Although it's bad for them, I guess, if bushco decides we need to install some more 'cooperative' leaders.

Power to the People!

[nodictators]

2. Good! Free Trade for who?

The FTAA is just another scam, kinda like NAFTA was.

We just send more and more high-paying American jobs away to other countries, a handful of CEOs reap the rewards, and US workers get screwed out of their jobs.

[sadiesworld]

3. FTAA DOA.

:woohoo:

[warrens]

4. How refreshing

That will doom CAFTA too. This is like that Monty Python bit The Argument Clinic where the guy accidentally wanders into the getting hit in the face clinic. Smack right in Condi's chops.

[David__77]

5. Trade must serve the developing countries.

The US wants to open developing countries to investment imports but wants to keep the wall of protection around US farm goods. How is that fair? If the US really wants "free trade," it should be prepared to truly compete with foreign firms.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. Go, Lula!

Mercosur, as a free trade pact among neighboring countries with similar levels of economic development and complementary strengths, makes sense.

The FTAA is simply an open invitation for U.S. corporations to do more outsourcing and to flood Third World countries with subsidized exports.

[Robbien]

7. Oh Good. When the largest S. American trading country also says no

then the chances of it being rammed through gets much smaller.