Venezuela wants to join Mercosur's free trade zone by year's end, its Production and Trade Minister Ramon Rosales said yesterday.
After Friday's meeting between Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in northeastern Brazil, the trade minister said Venezuela would like to join Mercosur.
The South American trading bloc includes Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil as well as Chile and Bolivia as associate, non-voting members.
Mercosur is already in talks to create a free trade zone with the Andean Community which includes Venezuela and Peru as well as Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Rosales said Venezuela would like to open separate talks "as Peru is negotiating on its own behalf."
He said Brazil will inform the other Mercosur countries of Venezuela's intentions.
He also said it is desirable and possible or "Venezuela to accede to Mercosur before December 31."Chavez and Lula said Friday they would like to see the Mercosur-Andean Community negotiations wrapped up by year's end.
AFP