U.S. envoy: negotiations on Americas free-trade area remain on track
August 31, 1999
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - AP World News via NewsEdge Corporation : U.S. presidential envoy Kenneth MacKay said Monday negotiations for a free-trade accord spanning the Americas remain on track for a 2005 deadline. He also met with President Carlos Menem and expressed confidence in the electoral process to find his successor.
``These negotiations are on a very disciplined track. The timetable has been agreed to,' MacKay said of the hemispheric free trade talks during a visit to Argentina.
MacKay expressed confidence in Argentina's ability to lead the process when it assumes the rotating presidency of the trade negotiations in November. For the past two years, Canada has chaired the negotiating process. ``We're very pleased with the leadership that Canada has provided,' he said.
While visiting Buenos Aires, MacKay also met with the three top candidates for an Oct. 24 presidential election to replace Menem, who leaves office in December after two terms
``President Menem is an extraordinary leader. Our discussions were both productive and enjoyable,' MacKay said. ``Whatever candidate the Argentine people select as next president, the U.S. and Argentina will continue with their close cooperation.'
He added that Menem and Clinton would meet in New York. He didn't give a date, but local media suggested that would occur in September.
MacKay said he trusted the U.S. and Argentina will show a unified front at the World Trade Organization Millennium Round, to be held in Seattle in November. The United States and Argentina ``are very much in parallel on agricultural issues since both countries are important commodities producers,' he said.
Such issues were the focus of the so-called Cairns group meeting that ended Sunday in Buenos Aires. Argentina, along with the other 14 members of the group, reasserted its support of fairer market-oriented trading conditions for farm and other products.
The Cairns Group consists of 15 agricultural exporting countries opposed to trade tariffs and export subsidies. Its members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Paraguay, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Uruguay.
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