A key part of Brazil’s economy since the 1980s is its stance on trade. Brazil is a founding member of Mercosur – the southern cone trading bloc which was established in 1991 and also includes Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. While the organization’s charter is to promote trade, investment and human flows, it has been accused of trade diversion and blocking U.S. efforts to create the Free Trade Area of the Americas (Council on Foreign Relations 2009). Brazil became a member of the WTO on January 1, 1995. Brazil is granted MFN status by the U.S. as well as the European Union and the other members of the World Trade Organization (WTO).