Posted on 01/12/2006 7:53:11 AM PST by hedgetrimmer
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) -- Guatemala's government -- annoyed by the delay in CAFTA's implementation and the U.S. House of Representative's approval of a wall to keep out illegal immigrants -- announced Tuesday it would seek to strengthen its relations with the Mercosur trading bloc. "The decision to approach Mercosur has been made," Guatemalan Vice President Eduardo Stein told The Associated Press in a telephone interview, referring to bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Guatemalan officials will seek to establish contacts with Mercosur leaders at the upcoming inauguration of Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales, Stein said.
Seeking ties with the South American countries "is a natural follow-up to the offer from President (Luiz Ignacio) Lula (da Silva) of Brazil to negotiate with Guatemala, something we put off until finishing negotiations for the (CAFTA) treaty with the United States," Stein said.
"It is indispensable to diversify our trade and diplomatic relations so as not to depend mostly, or even worse, exclusively, on a single trade relationship," he said.
U.S. President George W. Bush signed CAFTA, an acronym for the Central America Free Trade Agreement, with leaders of five Central American countries and the Dominican Republic in May. The U.S. Congress ratified it in August.
But a delay by the Central American nations in passing necessary legal and regulatory reforms has prompted most countries to push back their deadlines for CAFTA's implementation until February at the earliest.
The Guatemalan Congress has not yet approved the required legal reforms but a congressional committee has given them a favorable recommendation, which Guatemala's executive branch considered sufficient for the United States to give the pact the go-ahead.
Last week, Stein said Guatemala would look "for other latitudes where people are more respected," a veiled reference to the U.S. House of Representative's approval of a measure to build more border fences, make illegal immigration a felony and enlist military and local police to help stop undocumented migrants. The measure must still be approved by the U.S. Senate.
Stein said Guatemala's overtures to Mercosur should not necessarily be viewed as connected with the country's opposition to U.S. migration measures.
Mercosur joined with Venezuela at the Summit of the Americas in Argentina in November to oppose U.S. and Canadian efforts to propose a timeframe for the Free Trade Area of the Americas. The 34-nation FTAA would stretch from Canada to Chile, including all nations in the hemisphere except for Cuba.
More proof that illegal immigration and "free trade" are two sides of the same coin.
What is taking the Free Trade agreement so long to be implemented?
Without a doubt in my mind, free trade will force these countries into less corruption because they will not be able to sell without some level of integrity.
And Guatemala wants our products, too, just as we can use their fruits, vegetables, and coffee.
Oh nooooo, there goes Guatamala. What are we going to do?
Perhaps Brazil can handle the flow of humans over it's borders. Good deal!
Who cares.The longer the better
Without a doubt in my mind, free trade will force these countries into less corruption because they will not be able to sell without some level of integrity.
It didn't lessen Mexican corruption. That NAFTA deal leaves us with illegal immigration worse than under Bill Clinton. Contrary to the promises of the NAFTA boosters
NAFTA didn't make us stop protecting our borders.
Our stupid government made that decision unilaterally.
I remember the NAFTA fight. I well remember the NAFTA supporters claiming it would bring so much prosperity to Mexico it would lessen illegal immigration
But GATT is worldwide and has nothing to do with NAFTA.
GATT has been around for years and doesn't undermine our border patrol.
We do that entirely on our own. Otherwise, recent hopeful efforts to strengthen our borders are useless, since according to your thinking, it would be illegal to stop illegals.
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