MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur, 4 + 1 talks

United States and Mercosur defined this week in Buenos Aires an agenda and working calendar to eliminate trade and investment obstacles and create conditions for a greater access to markets at both ends.

"The meeting and the results were most positive", indicated the Argentine Mercosur representative Martín Redrado who participated in the talks with Brazil's representative, Mr. Clodoaldo Hugueney, Uruguay's Elbio Rossselli and Paraguay's Rigoberto Gauto.

The US mission was headed by Deputy Trade Representative Peter Allgeier who said "negotiations are reaching a fundamental phase".

In the 4 + 1, as the talks are defined, United States basically is interested in increasing investments and trade in the area, while Mercosur is interested in greater access for its agricultural produce in the US market.

A work group on agriculture will be meeting next May in Buenos Aires to address "critical issues such as sanitary measures and other impediments to the Mercosur farm industry in the US".

United States insisted in intellectual property rights, a controversial issue that not only includes the pharmaceutical patents but software and even the entertainment industry.In the final release Mercosur and the US committed themselves to help with the advancement of World Trade Organization negotiations and to speed the Americas Free Trade Association, scheduled to begin in 2005.