São Paulo, November 22, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Sérgio Amaral, agrees with the declarations made by PT senator-elect Aloysio Mercadante, that Brazil should play tough with the United States in trade negotiations. "I think it's correct, and that's what we've done," said Amaral, who alerted that, in the negotiations, there should be a balance between the countries in results and advances.

According to Amaral, Brazil, which, together with the United States, occupies the place of co-president of the FTAA negotiations, should defend a position of balance in the negotiations. "Otherwise, we should put our foot on the brake," the minister declared, during the seminar "The impact of NAFTA on the Mexican economy." (DAS)