MERCOSUR member states (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) met with representatives of the CARICOM in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on 16 December 2004 at the XXVII ordinary MERCOSUR Common Market Council meeting with the objective to deepen their political and economic dialogue. Ministers proposed a work program to be initiated in the first semester of 2005 with a view to launch negotiations towards a free trade agreement.

An initial meeting was held, at the Ministerial level, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. At this meeting, the countries expressed their intention to sign a trade agreement before the end of 2005.

Documents relating to the negotiations
28 February 2005	MERCOSUR and CARICOM seek trade agreement before end of year
24-25 February 2005	Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Joint Communiqué issued at the Conclusion of the CARICOM/MERCOSUR Ministerial Meeting
16 December 2004	Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Joint CARICOM-MERCOSUR communiqué and Work Program
Source: Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat; Ministério das Relações Exteriores do Brasil; Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto

• Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat
• Ministério das Relações Exteriores do Brasil
• Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto