U.S., Brazil say FTAA process moving in positive direction

U.S., Brazil say FTAA process moving in positive direction

   The Bush administration said talks of creating the Free Trade Area of the Americas are moving in a positive direction.

   U.S. Trade Representative officials met in Washington with their counterparts from Brazil Feb. 22-23 to continue developing a set of rights and obligations for the FTAA. The United States and Brazil co-chair the Trade Negotiations Committee. The committee met in February last year at Peubla, Mexico.

   The FTAA, once implemented, would include 34 countries in the Western Hemisphere, from Canada to Argentina.

   “The co-chairs have continued to make progress and are optimistic about the results of this meeting,” said the United States and Brazil in a joint statement Thursday.

   The U.S. and Brazilian co-chairs will meet again March 29-30, and will consult informally with delegations from the other FTAA countries.