S. American Bloc Signs Trade Pact With PA

By JTA December 21, 2011

A bloc of South American countries has signed a free trade agreement with the Palestinian Authority.

MERCOSUR, the political and economic consortium made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, on Tuesday in Uruguay signed the first trade deal between the PA and nations outside of the Arab world, The Associated Press reported.

Israel controls imports and exports from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, rendering the deal symbolic, according to the AP.

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