Leave dissenters out of trade pact: Fox

SUMMIT The Mexican president said the Free Trade Area of the Americas could start to move forward if it excludes countries like Venezuela, which favors a socialist approach

AP , MAR DEL PLATA, ARGENTINA

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told reporters that Western Hemisphere countries could form an FTAA without Brazil and the other Mercosur members, but insisted Brazil is not putting the trade zone on the back burner.

Instead, he said Brazil wants to focus on FTAA after an important round of talks in Hong Kong in December by the 148-nation member World Trade Organization to slash trade barriers around the world and boost global commerce.

"I'm not allergic to FTAA," Amorim said.