Associated Press | By Traci Carl | November 21, 2003
MIAMI -- Trade ministers from across the Americas, unable to agree on issues such as farm subsidies, approved a watered-down framework on Thursday for the world's largest free-trade bloc.
Ministers from 34 countries in the Americas, excluding Cuba, were to finish negotiations on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) today. But after days of debate, they said Thursday they had achieved all they could in Miami.
The agreement, due to be formalized by January 2005, probably will change what food consumers buy in supermarkets as well as help dictate the future jobs of the hemisphere's workers. The declaration will be turned over to negotiators to solidify the details.
The announcement came as police and protesters clashed a few blocks from the hotel where the meeting was being held. Opponents say the agreement will hurt workers' rights and the environment.
Ministers hailed their final declaration as a victory, with former rivals the United States and Brazil both saying it showed there had been progress in bringing countries together since World Trade Organization's talks collapsed two months ago in Mexico.
The FTAA declaration, hammered out by deputy ministers on Wednesday, calls for a agreement that all countries must follow, but allows each nation to decide its commitment to the more controversial topics.
Mexico Economy Secretary Fernando Canales expressed disappointment that the draft didn't go further in defining how markets would be opened and when. Thursday's declaration will be turned over to negotiators for more work, which all acknowledged would be difficult.Associated Press:
