March 15, 2006
Uruguayan President supports Mercosur and says no to bilateral free trade deal with the US

(The Daily Journal) - Uruguayan President Tabaré Vásquez stated that Uruguay would not sign a bilateral free trade deal with the United States and was committed to the expansion of Mercosur and Latin American integration during his first official state visit to Venezuela this week.

Speaking to reporters, President Tabaré Vásquez stated, 'This is very important and I just want to make it very clear that the present Uruguayan government will not sign a bilateral agreement with the United States'. In doing so he reiterated the idea of continental integration.

'We need to keep on striving for the social, commercial, and political integration of all of our countries and with these variables in place we will finally begin with the construction of an integrated Latin America.'

Reports began circulating in December that Uruguay, a member of Mercosur was starting talks with U.S officials about creating a bilateral free trade agreement with the United States (...)

At joint news conference with the Uruguayan President, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez had some harsh words about those trade deals.

'How can they compete with our neighbour to the north (U.S.), when the North subsidizes their agriculture, food and technology. I believe these deals will sink these countries.' Chávez said.

President Tabaré Vásquez' two day visit to Venezuela which ended on March 14 produced a series of accords between the countries ranging from joint oil exploration, to technogical sharing. Furthermore Venezuela committed in including Uruguay in the proposed continental oil pipeline project that would run from Venezuela to Argentina ".