Agriculture included in free trade talks

20 March 1998

Agriculture included in free trade talks

TRADE ministers from the Americas have decided key aspects of how negotiations for a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) should be carried out. The progress means leaders of individual countries involveds will be able to formally launch the negotiating process in Santiago, Chile, next month.

Mercosur delegates claimed a victory after inclusion of a negotiating group dedicated to discussing agriculture. The group is one of nine to be created to advance different aspects of a final accord.

Participating countries have committed themselves to creating the FTAA by 2005.

• Financial Times 20/03/98 page 4