Colombia Jilts US FTA for Venezuela
The signing of two agreements between Colombia and Venezuela contrasted this week to this Andean nation´s withdrawal from the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the United States (FTAA).

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Venezuela´s Hugo Chavez ratified both countries´ decisions, despite their different ideological positions.

The Colombian delegation to the 13th FTA among Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru with the United States walked out of the negotiations without signing.

They expected this round to conclude with the signing of that trade agreement, but it was hindered by Washington´s inflexible position concerning agriculture, intellectual property (medicines and patents), and health and phytosanitary measures, important topics for the Andean nations.

Experts consider the FTAA will be present, in a great extent, in the campaigns for the legislative elections in 2006.