MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Sleeping giant” criticises American protectionism

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac criticised American protectionism that according to the Brazilian leader impedes developing countries to grow.

During lunch with Mr. Chirac in Paris, Mr. Lula da Silva underlined his task was to protect the interests of all Brazilians, particularly the poor, and therefore he will not accept protectionism from the rich countries as an inevitable condition for any trade agreement. "Free trade must be for all because all countries must grow. However in my recent talks with European leaders I found a willingness to establish fairer trade relations", said Mr. Lula da Silva, adding expected similar attitudes from American and Japanese leaders. The Brazilian president also underlined he will never accept any conditioning clause regarding American protectionism in the coming Free Trade of the Americas Association talks.

"There can never be different tolls, we'll never accept them. We want all countries to grow and expand", said Mr. Lula da Silva.

President Chirac was quick in retorting that "I believe European protectionism is more propaganda than real. Farm subsidies are mostly American".

Mr. Lula da Silva also requested French help to open the European Union to the whole of Mercosur, converting the block in the heart of business and politics for South America. "France, Germany and the whole European Union can contribute to make Mercosur not only the heart of business and trade, but also the hub of South American political affairs". Further on the Brazilian president said that with some European associates, such as Portugal, Spain and France sometimes "I feel we have a more sentimental than economic link. During my mandate I will double efforts to turn those sentimental relations into more daring political, economic and cultural links".

Mr. Lula da Silva ended this Tuesday in Paris a brief visit to Europe that included meetings with French president Chirac, German Chancellor Gerard Schroeder in Berlin and over the weekend in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum where he was one of the main speakers.

In Davos Mr. Lula da Silva called for the creation of a global anti poverty fund with support from the G 7 group, emphasising a common global agenda directed at achieving growth alongside better income distribution and social conditions.

The Brazilian president also stressed that under his administration the country intended to play a more active role in world affairs.

As the most populated nation in the Southern Hemisphere and ninth world economy, "Brazil can no longer be a sleeping giant".