LATIN AMERICA — Free-trade agreements in the works

Separate free-trade deals are in the works by Mexico with a pair of South American countries and five Central American nations.

Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia hope to have an agreement signed by year-end. Venezuela and Colombia have been working under a free-trade zone agreement since January.

And Mexico is in the early stages of negotiating an agreement with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Mexico is currently involved in negotiations with Canada and the U.S. for a tri-lateral North American free-trade agreement.