Brasília, 8/14/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The possibility of establishing a Mercosul - South African Custom Union (Sacu) free trade agreement was the main topic of discussion yesterday when Brazilian Foreign Minister, Celso Amorim, and the South African minister of Finances, Trevor Manuel, met here in Brasilia.

The two ministers also discussed bilateral relations and the grounds for a common position at the V World Trade Organization Ministerial Meeting scheduled for Cancun, Mexico in September.

The ministers also discussed the new G-3 and its future. Since June, following the trilateral meeting of the ministers of Foreign Relations of Brazil, South Africa and India, when a Dialogue Forum was set up, commercial relations among the three nations have been on the rise. The group is now referred to as the G-3. Amorim and Manuel discussed reducing G-3 trade barriers and promoting development in biotechnology, defense, health and air transportation. The effort is seen as a first step in increasing southern hemisphere trade and strengthening the markets in the three large countries. (AB)