http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006- ... 047617.htm

Uruguay denies talks on free trade treaty with US
www.chinaview.cn
2006-01-13 11:44:34

MONTEVIDEO, Jan. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Uruguay's Foreign Minister Reinaldo Gargano denied Thursday that the Uruguayan government is holding talks with the United States on a bilateral free trade treaty.

At a press conference here, Gargano denied the statements made by U.S. senator Mel Martinez, who said in Buenos Aires that a free trade treaty between Uruguay and the United States had been worked out, and only needed to be ratified.

The minister reiterated that the Broad Front party which governs Uruguay will not sign free trade deals as long as the United States preserves its current agricultural subsidies.

Gargano said that Uruguay's President Tabare Vazquez had supported the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) stance against restarting talks on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) at November's 4th Organization of American States summit.

Mercosur, Latin America's largest trading bloc, comprises Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay with Chile and Bolivia as associate members.

Gragano added that he had discussed the issue with foreign ministers of Argentina and Brazil.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Mel Martinez issued a statement through the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo, saying his earlier remarks had referred to a bilateral investor protection treaty, not a free trade agreement.

The investment agreement has already been agreed by the Uruguayan parliament and is awaiting ratification by the U.S. Congress. Enditem