Cablegate: Media Reaction: Western Hemisphere, Free-Trade, Doha Round;

VZCZCXYZ0017
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSO #0699 1771135
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261135Z JUN 06
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5311
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 6406
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 7215
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 2503

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000699

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE, FREE-TRADE, DOHA ROUND;
SAO PAULO

"If Doha Fails"

Center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (6/24) editorialized: "It is
necessary to think about alternative solutions in case the Doha
Round trade negotiations fail.... The US has already made progress
in doing this.... The Doha project is not yet buried, but time for
its conclusion is dangerously short.... There are difficulties on
all fronts.... If nothing works in Doha, it will be necessary to
look for other means to facilitate trade.... For Brazil, a solution
would be the normal continuation of the policy adopted by the
Foreign Ministry since 2003. The intensification of relations with
South Africa and India continues to be on top of Brazil's diplomatic
agenda.... The GOB also continues to work for Latin American
integration, a task that has been made difficult because of
frictions created by Venezuela and Bolivia. The only bloc in which
Brazil fully participates, Mercosul, is shaky and will hardly become
strengthened with Venezuela's membership.... It is very likely that
in view of new opportunities of bilateral agreements, Uruguay and
Paraguay are tempted to leave Mercosul for a rapprochement with the
US. Trade agreements with other developing nations can be very
useful for Brazil.... But it will be a disastrous mistake to make
the South-South diplomacy an alternative to trade agreements with
the European Union, the US and other rich world partners. The best
plan is to seriously reconsider the FTAA and think about good
bilateral trade agreements."
McMullen

© Scoop Media