Mercosur in EU trade talks

news.ft.com By Raymond Colitt Published: January 30 2003 4:00 | Last Updated: January 30 2003 4:00

Mercosur, the four-nation South American trade bloc, is preparing to broaden its latest tariff proposal in trade negotiations with the European Union, José Alfredo Graça Lima, Brazil's ambassador to the EU, said.

The statement comes during a three-day visit by Pascal Lamy, the EU trade commissioner, to Brazil in an effort to work with the newly elected leftwing government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to kick start sluggish free trade negotiations.