"Globalization means opening markets," said Cardoso, who is in Mexico to take part in the international seminar, Economic Growth and Globalization.

"A good negotiation ought to be made, but not at any cost," he warned.

"Sometimes, with the FTAA, we're uncomfortable with the sensation that they take a lot and offer a little," said Cardoso. For example, Brazil produced three million vehicles a year, butits internal market consumed only half of them, meaning the rest of the production had to be exported to the richest countries of the region, like the United States, Mexico and Chile, and not to the poorest, said Cardoso.

Brazil was not against the FTAA, but Brazil must defend its interests in the negotiations, the former president said.

Cardoso said his country will continue defending in multilateral forums, like the World Trade Organization (WTO), the opening of agricultural markets in rich countries and the elimination of export subsidies.

Initiated by a US-sponsored proposal at the First Summit of theAmericas in Miami, Florida, in 1994, the FTAA aims to eliminate trade barriers among 34 nations on the American continent. If finalized, the FTAA will become the world's largest free trade zone with 784 million potential consumers, stretching from Alaska,in the United States, to Argentina.