PORLAMAR, Venezuela -- (AP) -- After signing a summit declaration that supports a U.S.-sponsored Free Trade Area of the Americas, Cuban President Fidel Castro warned that the proposed treaty could lead to U.S. domination of Latin America.

 ``There is a plot to impose by economic force ... not only an economic, but a global political order,'' Castro said after Wednesday's conclusion of the Association of
 Caribbean States summit.

 ``One day, all of our countries -- excepting Cuba because (Washington), luckily, doesn't want it -- could be involved in a large deal in which everyone is compromised'' by developed nations' might, Castro said.

 Cuba, which has faced four decades of U.S. economic sanctions imposed because of its communist rule, is excluded from negotiations to establish the free trade zone from Alaska to Argentina in 2005.

 An ACS declaration signed by Castro expresses support for the FTAA -- as long as developed nations' barriers to products such as agricultural and textile imports from developing nations are eliminated. That would provide impoverished Latin nations a better chance to compete.

 But Castro later said millions of Latin Americans are heading for ``a destination they know nothing about.'' Accusing leaders of keeping details on treaty negotiations
 secret, he urged the region's governments to educate their citizens about the deal.

 U.S. workers know more about FTAA than their Latin counterparts because thousands of them lost jobs to cheaper Mexican labor when the North American Free Trade Agreement was enacted, Castro said.

 Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez supported Castro's criticism. He suggested that the region consider an alternative. And he pledged to put any FTAA to a popular vote in Venezuela.

 Another dissenting voice was Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo, who said his government wouldn't sign a deal without ``preferential and distinguishing treatment'' for Latin and Caribbean economies.

 ``If these conditions don't meet with our satisfaction ... we simply will be ignored,'' Jagdeo said.

 During the two-day summit on Margarita Island, Caribbean leaders called for FTAA negotiations to end by January 2005 and the free trade zone be opened by December 2005.

 They denounced the U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba, but pledged their continuing support for the fight against terrorism. They also vowed to jointly promote
 Caribbean tourism, a vital industry that has suffered since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

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