Peru has finished trade negotiations with the European Union and has three other talks ongoing with Mexico, Central American countries, and the so-called TPP pact between nine members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation group.
Any negotiations for the India and Arab Gulf pacts would not be completed until after President Alan Garcia leaves office in July.
Garcia's government has implemented free trade agreements with the United States and China, helping the Peruvian economy grow at one of the world's highest growth rates, nearly 9 percent in 2010. Now it is looking for new markets.
"Not so long ago the United States represented 35 or 40 percent of our exports - today it is 18 percent," Ferreyros said. "We are looking more towards countries like China, South Korea and Japan."
The value of Peru's total exports increased by 30 percent in 2010 while exports to China grew 33 percent. Peru is a leading minerals exporter and has also pushed into specialty agricultural crops and textiles.
Peru started the EU negotiations as part of the Andean Community, but only Peru and Colombia have completed talks.
Peru should be ready in April to sign an economic partnership agreement with Japan that excludes certain products from free trade status. Talks were completed in November. The deal could be in force before the end of 2011, Ferreyros said.
Minerals continue to be Peru's most important export to Japan but Peru hopes the country will be a market for its seafood, textiles and other nontraditional products.
Peruvian negotiators are currently in Santiago, Chile, for the fifth round of talks for the TPP trade integration project.
"What we are hoping for is to advance, the process will not be finalized at this meeting," Ferreyros said. (Reuters)
