Several hundred activists in Ottawa yesterday attempted to “liberate” the Free Trade Area of the Americas negotiatingdocuments.

The FTAA would expand NAFTA to the entire Western Hemisphere, creating the largest free market zone in the world. Itwould affect 650 million people and an estimated $9 trillion in capital, and is expected to expand the scope ofNAFTA’s free trade agenda to cover the service sector. The US government has been negotiating the FTAA with selectedcorporations and 34 countries of the Americas since 1994, but has never allowed citizens to see the documents.

We spoke with two members of the Ottawa convergence against the FTAA over the telephone yesterday just as they werepreparing to enter the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade building, where the documents are held.

Guest:

• Kerry Pither, with Ottawa convergence against the FTAA.