MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Let's talk again after the Hong Kong meeting

The failure of the 34 hemispheric countries in reaching a compromise on a free trade area at the Mar del Plata summit was summarized in an annexe to the final declaration, more precisely in paragraph 19 with the two rival positions.

Twenty nine of the 34 countries said they wanted to resume talks on a Free Trade Area of the Americas, FTAA, in 2006, but five others, Mercosur, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay plus Venezuela insisted on waiting the results of the Hong Kong WTO meeting next month in Hong Kong.

The final Mar del Plata declaration has 34 points with agreement on 33 of them.

Paragraph 19 begins praising economic integration as a means of creating jobs, fighting poverty and promoting democratic governance.

However "some members" realize the difficulties arisen from the FTAA negotiation process but also acknowledge the significant contributions of free trade and the integration processes and therefore are committed to achieving a balanced and comprehensive FTAA directed to the expansion of trade and globally to a world trade free of subsidies and distorting practices, taking into account the different size and degree of development of the participant economies.

"We will participate actively in ensuring a significant outcome in the Doha round contemplating those purposes and continue to promote practices and activities established in the FTAA process, which ensure transparency and promote participation of the civil society".

But "other members" believe that the necessary conditions for a hemispheric free trade agreement with full and fair access to markets, free of subsidies and distorting practices, taking into account the needs and sensitivities of all partners as well as the different levels of economic development and size, are not yet present.

Therefore we coincide in exploring both positions following the outcome of the coming Hong Kong ministerial round in the framework of the World Trade Organization. Colombia will be involved in consultations with the purpose of convening a meeting of trade negotiators.

Basically two positions regarding free trade with Colombia's proposal to stand by until the outcome of the Hong Kong WTO ministerial meeting.

The first proposal by "some members" was presented by Panama and signed by United States and Canada.

The "other members" initiative is the Mercosur stance proposed by Argentina and supported by Uruguay which holds the pro tempore chair of the regional block.

Chile, Colombia, Panama and Organization of American States Secretary General Miguel Insulza acted trying to bring positions closer.

Chilean president Ricardo Lagos remarked that during the summit debate the 34 leaders spoke out in quite an unusual and frank tone, which "made the meeting very entertaining".

"It's hard to reconcile positions when countries such as Chile depend 70% on export markets and Brazil 70% on the domestic market. Similarly for Argentina, exports represent 23% of the economy", pointed out President Lagos.

Colombian president, an acid critic of summits, also praised the level of discussion.

"It was a great debate, serious, sincere. We've advanced in respecting the others interests. It's easier to achieve integration through frankness than avoiding her", he underlined.