November 18, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 22, 1424

MIAMI, Nov 17: Trade officials from 34 nations in the Americas are negotiating details of the world’s largest free trade bloc, a proposal that will likely determine whether local supermarkets sell beef from Brazil or oranges from Florida.

Agricultural tariffs and subsidies are among the most contentious topics of discussion for a Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, or FTAA.

Brazil, which is co-hosting this week’s meeting along with the United States, wants the United States to reduce or eliminate subsidies, quotas, tariffs and other barriers that protect American farmers. The US says agricultural issues should be decided by the 146-member WTO.

Brazil stood up the United States and Europe in September, leading a group of more than 20 nations who pushed for the elimination of agricultural subsidies.—APP