Uribe and Toledo to analyze FTA with US
Prensa Latina, Cuba
Uribe and Toledo to Analyze FTA with US
5 September 2005
Bogota (Prensa Latina). Presidents of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, and Peru, Alejandro Toledo will analyze Monday the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which along with Ecuador, has been negotiated with the US since May 2004.
The Colombian-Peruvian summit will be held after Toledo’s arrival in Bogota for a five-hour working visit.
Sources from the Colombian presidency said the Peruvian head of state arrived at 10:30 local time and went straight to the Casa de Nariño, the presidential headquarters, to receive military honors and initiate talks with Uribe.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs Oscar Maurtua, Foreign Trade and Tourism, Alfredo Ferrero, Agriculture, Manuel Manrique, and Production, David Lemor, and Foreign Trade vice-minister and FTA Chief Negotiator Pablo de la Flor made up the President’s delegation.
Peruvian businessmen are also with Toledo on this visit.
According to sources, the two heads of state and officials will discuss different FTA matters to adopt common positions for the XII Round of Negotiations to be held in Cartagena in October.
Results of previous meetings show that divergences on agriculture and intellectual property, important issues for Colombia, Peru and Ecuador to sign with the US, continue.
Despite the rejection of labor unions in these countries to the US agricultural subsidy, the governments have reiterated their intention to sign the agreement this year to be applicable in 2006
