Area de Libre Comercio de las Americas or Free Trade Area of the Americas

ALCA/FTAA is badly needed to increase access to markets especially for the Mercosur countries. Granted protection for consumers and their own markets need to be built in, that is part of the MAI that among other items that will be part of the agreement when it is finalized. That cannot be done until meetings are begun, should have started by Jan. 1 2005, why the holdup? Don't settle for WTO it's a mess.