Venezuela accepted into Mercosur trade bloc

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela accepted into Mercosur trade bloc


By OSCAR SERRAT
The Associated Press
7/8/04 3:43 PM


PUERTO IGUAZU, Argentina (AP) -- Venezuela joined the growing list of Mercosur "associate" states Thursday as the South American trade bloc also encouraged Mexico to complete free trade talks toward eventual admission.

The announcements made at the 26th summit of the trade body marked a key milestone in the regional growth of the Mercosur bloc, which began as a customs union led by Brazil and Argentina over a decade ago.
(snip)

"We can now say that Venezuela is part of Mercosur," said a beaming Chavez just before a final communique by Latin American presidents was issued at the end of a two-day summit in this northeastern Argentine city.
(snip)

Mercosur was formed in 1991 by nations in southern South America in a bid to ease tariffs and spur commerce. South American powerhouse economies Brazil and Argentina are full members with Paraguay and Uruguay. Peru, Chile and Bolivia have joined as associates in recent years.
(snip/...)

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/business/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?f0564_BC_LatinAmerica-TradeSum&&news&newsflash-financial

Earlier article on this subject posted by "soulsick in jp" this a.m., prior to Venezuela's entry into Mercosur:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=671583

[bemildred]

1. Yippee! nt

[burrowowl]

2. Good News eom