Bush Fails to Revive Free Trade Talks in Latin America Amid Mass Protests

President Bush failed to persuade other leaders attending the Summit of the Americas meeting in Argentina this past weekend to resume talks around achieving a hemisphere-wide free trade agreement. Bush was hoping to persuade his Latin American and Caribbean counterparts to endorse the Free Trade Area of the Americas or FTAA plan. The FTAA would be larger than the European Union but without the free flow of labor and political integration. The plan would get rid of tariffs and other barriers that limit entry of American goods and services allowing American exports to the region to bloom. Critics have spoken out against the FTAA saying that it would do little to alleviate poverty in Latin America while opening up huge markets for American companies.

Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez has called the agreement an "annexationist plan" which would destroy local industry, roll back social safety nets and labor protections and permanently extend American political domination of the region to the economic realm. On Friday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez led a rally of 25,000 people to protest Bush and the FTAA.

* Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, November 4, 2005.

The alternative People's Summit took place in Argentina last week as well. Thousands came from all over the continent to discuss issues such as opposition to imperialism, employment and wealth distribution, environmental degradation and debt forgiveness.

* Beverly Keene, coordinator with Jubilee South/Americas and a member of the organizing committee for the People's Summit.

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