Brasília, 11/24/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - According to Minister of Agriculture, Roberto Rodrigues, last week's Free Trade Area of the Americas ministerial meeting in Miami was
"... broad, ambitious and leaves room for much to be accomplished. It was in line with our position in favor of a balanced approach, based on give and take by all sides."

Rodrigues added that the targets set in Miami are "the best that could be achieved at this time, the most we can dream. But there is no certainty those dreams will become reality."

The reality, according to Rodrigues, will be decided in Puebla, Mexico, next February, when the next meeting is scheduled. "What we did in Miami was keep the FTAA ideal alive in order to ensure it will go into effect in 2005. Exactly what form and shape the FTAA will have is something to be decided at Puebla and other future meetings," he declared.

With regard to agriculture, Rodrigues explained that the United States wants that issue decided at the World Trade Organization, while Brazil and other countries have decided to demand compensation for US subsidies in the agriculture sector rather than in other economic segments. That means that the trade off for the maintenance of US farm subsidies will be in the form of farm produce exports to the US market by FTAA member nations.

Rodrigues concluded his comments on the Miami meeting by saying that he does not see it as a victory for anyone, but a victory in that there was not a failure like Cancun, where no progress whatsoever was made. (AB)