Bush moves to beat TT to FTAA headquarters

FLORIDA Governor Jeb Bush and four other South Florida political leaders have started their official appeal for Miami to be named the permanent site of the future Free Trade Area of the Americas. In a letter sent Thursday to US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and Brazil’s trade minister Luiz Fernando Furlan, Bush and the other leaders wrote that they believe Miami is the most logical location for the permanent secretariat, which would bring thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic impact.

“We are convinced due to our longstanding and vibrant trade  relationship and the dynamic cultural linkages between Florida and the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean, a Miami-based Secretariat would offer the FTAA nations unparalleled advantages and benefits,’’ read the letter, signed by Bush, Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas, Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer, Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick and Broward County Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin. Also trying to win the permanent secretariat are Atlanta; Panama City, Panama; Puebla, Mexico; and Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Trade ministers from the 34 nations, including TT’s Kenneth Valley will meet in Miami on November 20-21 to continue negotiations for the creation of the FTAA, due by January 2005. Negotiations have run into problems as many poor nations are starting to reject open-market reforms pushed by rich countries. Last month, Uruguay became the first country to officially back Miami in its bid to become the FTAA’s permanent secretariat. The trade bloc would cover 34 nations and is touted by President Bush as a way to spur growth in developing nations and America.