Brasília, October 21, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazil is willing to negotiate the creation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) but will not accept the imposition of measures by developed countries that harm the Brazilian economy. In a speech on the floor of the Chamber of Deputies at the opening of a seminar to discuss the FTAA, the President made it clear that he will not open the Brazilian market to members of the free trade area without similar concessions for Brazilian products. "It makes no sense to give access to our market without compensations," he emphasized.

Lula made it clear that Brazil is willing to negotiate, even if countries like the United States are unwilling to revise barriers to Brazilian products and subsidies for domestic producers. In the President's evaluation, this stance is detrimental to the country's sovereignty, but, even so, Brazil is willing to negotiate. "We desire greater participation in international trade," he argued.

According to Lula, what Brazil desires is a "balanced" FTAA, guaranteeing the country access to hemispheric markets. "It would not be wise for us to concentrate on immediate profits and lose track of the medium and long run. Brazil has an obligation to assist in the FTAA project, making it favorable to all countries, especially the poorest ones," the President said. (DAS)