Associated Press
Officials from 34 countries in the Americas convened talks Monday aimed at creating the world's largest free trade bloc.
The Free Trade Agreement of the Americas would eliminate or reduce trade barriers among all nations in the Western Hemisphere except Cuba.
The negotiations hit an early roadblock as Canada and Chile complained about a deal reached by Brazil and the United States that was aimed at making the talks smoother, according to an official with the Brazilian delegation who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Police in Miami are preparing for large and potentially violent demonstrations, with at least 20,000 protesters expected to swarm the city.
Law enforcement agencies have spent months training to avoid a repeat of the riots that undermined the 1999 World Trade Organization talks in Seattle. The violence caused about $3-million (U.S.) in damage and resulted in some 500 arrests.
In trade talks earlier this month, Brazil and the United States resolved that all countries should agree to the basic principles of the deal and then decide whether they would agree to more specific, controversial points, according to a draft of the document.
Richard Mills, a spokesman for U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, would not discuss the negotiations but said the talks have been "challenging."
"The United States wants a comprehensive agreement with balance and flexibility," he said.
The deal between Brazil and the United States, the co-hosts of the meetings, would apparently scale back the free trade region.
But U.S. lead negotiator Ross Wilson insisted Monday that the draft agreement was not a "retreat" from earlier efforts to create a comprehensive free trade area.
He said there has been some debate among the 34 nations on how to advance negotiations, but there has been no substantial disagreement.
Agricultural tariffs and subsidies are among the most contentious topics set for discussion this week in Miami.
Brazil wants the United States to reduce or eliminate subsidies, quotas, tariffs and other barriers that protect American farmers. The United States says agricultural issues should be decided by the 146- member World Trade Organization.
The United States hopes to have the FTAA completed by early 2005.
Farm producers may have the most to lose - or gain. Florida orange growers have opposed Brazil's efforts to lower U.S. tariffs on orange juice imports, while Brazil is fighting to remove U.S. import restrictions on its booming beef industry.
Many manufacturers in small, poorer nations are afraid they will be wiped out by more powerful U.S. competitors.
The FTAA proposal is also drawing criticism from anti-globalization activists, environmentalists and union activists who plan to stage street protests throughout the week.