MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Regional trade.

Regional trade The Latinamerican Integration Association, ALADI, that includes Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay, experienced a satisfactory year in 2000 after the virtual freeze of 1999. According to an ALADI preliminary report all countries in the area with the exception of Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay, grew an average 4% during 2000 with Mexico, Cuba, Chile, Brazil and Peru showing even better results. Overall trade in 2000 managed a 8,869 billion US dollars surplus after a 3,253 billion deficit in 1999. Exports increased 23% reaching 332,565 billion US dollars and imports 18,7% equivalent to 327,066 billion US dollars. Inter Aladi commerce was equivalent to 44,181 billion US dollars, a 27% increase over '99, but still distant from the 1997 record. Trade among Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) also recovered in 2000 reaching 18 billion US dollars, 19% increase over '99 and is equivalent to 44% of the inter Aladi trade. Mercosur also had a forcible showing with Mexico and Chile, increasing commerce 57 and 36%.