[Marxism] Colombia signs trade deals with Venez as trade talks with US hit snags

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Colombia Spurns US FTA for Venezuela

Bogota, Nov 27 (PL) The signing of two agreements between Colombia and
Venezuela contrasted this week to this Andean nation's withdrawal from
the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the United States
(FTAA).

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez ratified
both countries' decisions, despite their different ideological
positions.

The Colombian delegation to the 13th FTA among Colombia, Ecuador, and
Peru with the United States walked out of the negotiations without
signing.

They expected this round to conclude with the signing of that trade
agreement, but it was hindered by Washington's inflexible position
concerning agriculture, intellectual property (medicines and patents),
and health and phytosanitary measures, important topics for the Andean
nations.

Experts consider the FTAA will be present, in a great extent, in the
campaigns for the legislative elections in 2006.


Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Colombia Still Trying for Trade Agreement with US

Bogota, Nov 24 (PL) After thirteen rounds failed in Washington, the
Colombian government is attempting a new meeting with the United States
to discuss sensitive topics of an Andean-US Free Trade Agreement.

The Colombia government hopes to have the meeting before the December 13
WTO conference, particularly to discuss agricultural, medicine and
health and plant health topics, from which it demands more flexibility
from Washington.

None of the three Andean nations (Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) could
conclude talks in the recent 13th round held in Washington.

According to negotiators, failure is ascribed to US inflexibility,
refusing to open its market to Andean nations while insisting these
nations eliminate tariffs on its agricultural products.

To save the agreement, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe urged that the
next round be held as soon as possible.

Admitting that a trade accord "is not going to be perfect," Uribe said
"we want it to be on an equal basis, having an opened market in the
United States to increase investments and employment, and encourage
micro-enterprise."

Local analysts, questioned by Prensa Latina, estimate that as time
passes and more is learned about the scope of the FTA, one becomes aware
that the asymmetries are a time bomb that puts the future of the country
at risk.

These observers are concerned about the fragility of the Colombian
attitude, which is only now noticing the magnitude of the situation.

hr/ccs/rgc/ale


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