Ecuador NSR - Andean Free Trade Agreement

[Pingudo]

Ecuador to sign a free trade agreement with Colombia, Peru and the US.

"Washington hopes the pact will help in the fight against illegal drugs, while creating new U.S. business opportunities in three countries (Col, Per, Ecu) with a total population of 84.3 million and combined economies approaching $500 billion annually."

http://today.reuters.com/business/newsArticle.aspx?type=ousiv&storyID=2005-11-14T195959Z_01_HO471961_RTRIDST_0_BUSINESSPRO-TRADE-ANDEAN-USA-DC.XML

If there's some sort of economic integration (a la EU) one can always hope that in 40/50 years there'll be at least a chance of a political integration among brotherly countries, and thus reducing hatred and hostility among one another.

[kaviedes_freak]

Ecuador to sign a free trade agreement with Colombia, Peru and the US.

"Washington hopes the pact will help in the fight against illegal drugs, while creating new U.S. business opportunities in three countries (Col, Per, Ecu) with a total population of 84.3 million and combined economies approaching $500 billion annually."

http://today.reuters.com/business/newsArticle.aspx?type=ousiv&storyID=2005-11-14T195959Z_01_HO471961_RTRIDST_0_BUSINESSPRO-TRADE-ANDEAN-USA-DC.XML

If there's some sort of economic integration (a la EU) one can always hope that in 40/50 years there'll be at least a chance of a political integration among brotherly countries, and thus reducing hatred and hostility among one another.

this i like to see! hopefully, it will follow through. it can benefit all parties envolved.

[astabooty]

I don't like it so much. I fear the US will try to exert too much power in the war on drugs in those countries. Also I bet it will just make the rich richer, not helping la gente of the countries.

[astabooty]

come on, im interested to see what you guys think. you ecuadorians probably know a lot more than me about this.

[DanRod78]

How is this supposed to be good?

This is the way I see it. The US DOES NOT get into any agreement unless they know that they are going to benefit big time.

Just look at:
- Kyoto protocol, it's good for the World, but "******** it, because it'll hurt american economy"
- World justice system, it's good for the World, but "******** it, because it'll put american troops at risk of being put in trial for crimes that they commit in other countries.
- UnitedNations, it's good for the World, but "******** it, because when the US wants to go to war, the UN always has to be asking all kind of stupid questions"


The US is trying to do the opposite of what Chavez is trying to do. Because there's a saying that states
"DIVIDE AND YOU'LL CONQUER"
and there's another saying that states:
"UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL"

[astabooty]

i agree with danrod, although he doesnt really talk about this specific situation.

[DanRod78]

i agree with danrod, although he doesnt really talk about this specific situation.
I don't know much about it.
But Ecuador and Peru are too small to be having free trade agreement with US.

[ecuajhony]

I don't know much about it.
But Ecuador and Peru are too small to be having free trade agreement with US.
Ecuador es un pais pequeno pero es el mayor provedor de un sin fin de cosas hacia Estados Unidos entre ellas

Banano
Mango
Flores
Atun
Textiles
Viveres
y exporta hasta una buena cantidad de Petroleo

y un monton de cosas mas

[DanRod78]

Don't take it the wrong way, I'm not saying that Ecuador is Haiti.

But just look at Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela.
They feel threaten by ALCA and don't want a free trade agreement unless is in "Block".
Do you really think that Ecuador's economy is bigger than any of those countries.

[ecuajhony]

and do u really think Excuador wants to be part of this TLC "tratado de libre comercio"

[Guerrero9]

Ecuador es un pais pequeno pero es el mayor provedor de un sin fin de cosas hacia Estados Unidos entre ellas

Banano
Mango
Flores
Atun
Textiles
Viveres
y exporta hasta una buena cantidad de Petroleo

y un monton de cosas mas

these are the type of things less developed countries like Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador can offer the USA... just primary products. You can also add minerals to the list. But the fact is a free trade agreement doesnt necessarily include all products, the US are very protective of their agricultural sector and they will probably continue to be.

"Washington hopes the pact will help in the fight against illegal drugs, while creating new U.S. business opportunities in three countries (Col, Per, Ecu)"
...While we are selling mangos and minerals they are bringing over their Multinational Corporations over here to compete against our own home grown companies. I doubt many of our small home grown companies are ready to compete against their big companies and eventually the US companies will take over. We can achieve fairer terms of trade and political integration by trading amongst ourselves (South Americans).

[DanRod78]

"Washington hopes the pact will help in the fight against illegal drugs, while creating new U.S. business opportunities in three countries (Col, Per, Ecu)"
Here's what I think about that in few words:

This was in www.cnn.com (you can search for "james hiett" in yahoo)
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/11/06/army.drugs/
November, 2000.

A federal judge in July sentenced Col. Hiett to five months in prison, five months of home confinement and one year probation. He pleaded guilty in April to charges he tried to launder $25,000 in proceeds from drug shipments his wife made from a post office in the U.S. Embassy in Bogota to New York City.

Laurie Hiett pleaded guilty in January to charges she shipped packages containing $700,000 worth of heroin and cocaine. She is serving a five-year sentence.

James Hiett was U.S. military group commander at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota at the time. In that job, he was in charge of all U.S. military activities in Colombia, including highly sensitive counterdrug operations.

[Hartfield]

I don't like it so much. I fear the US will try to exert too much power in the war on drugs in those countries. Also I bet it will just make the rich richer, not helping la gente of the countries.


THis is also big time news in Colombia, so people agree that's bad other think it's good.

[biosoccer]

I'm not so sure about this one. Is Ecuador really prepared for this?

If my memory is right, back when Ecuador signed the free trade agreement with Colombia was the worst thing ever for the local economy. All small to medium business went out of business (I know that's how my parents went bankrupt). Even larger companies and banks suffer A LOT.
This was basically because there was nothing written that protected local industry. Colombia is a much bigger country, so their industry was larger with much better capacity to generate large amounts at lower prices. Ecuadorian companies couldn't compete.

So the big question is: is Ecuador better prepared this time. And: are they going to make sure to protect their small-medium business security?

Unless the answer for the last two questions is yes (I haven't been in Ecuador for the last 7 years, so I have no clue), I would very cautious about this step.

Chile had to fight really hard to get a decent deal with the US. The first proposal that was presented from the US was a piece of crap that would have benefit the US and put in risk many productive areas in Chile.

[Emelectric15]

Here's what I think about that in few words:

This was in www.cnn.com (you can search for "james hiett" in yahoo)
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/11/06/army.drugs/
November, 2000.

A federal judge in July sentenced Col. Hiett to five months in prison, five months of home confinement and one year probation. He pleaded guilty in April to charges he tried to launder $25,000 in proceeds from drug shipments his wife made from a post office in the U.S. Embassy in Bogota to New York City.

Laurie Hiett pleaded guilty in January to charges she shipped packages containing $700,000 worth of heroin and cocaine. She is serving a five-year sentence.

James Hiett was U.S. military group commander at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota at the time. In that job, he was in charge of all U.S. military activities in Colombia, including highly sensitive counterdrug operations.


Is that for real? god even the lowest of low's wouldn't try to pull some crap lke that.

IMO You can't trust the U.S. Government, I'm sure this is just another "divide-and-conquer" strategy, to pry apart Latin American countries. The U.S. never ever gives more then it recieves, and how is this supposed to be fighting against illegal drugs? pure bs and I'll tell why.

The idea of the U.S. undermining 30% of our country's workforce(small family farmers), basically refutes and contradict's their supposed intention to promote alternate food crop's as a way to cut down on illicit drug reproduction. This will do exactly the opposite and result in a greater production of illegal drugs with a U.S. destination.

The only reason they want this pact is to gain control over the region and counterweight Hugo Chavez. But it's not really worth it for them, so they look to come up economically as well.

I mean on one hand we do have a lot to offer, Ecuador is a country rich in goods, did you know we are one of the top exporters of coffee too? so we could gain from this pact but probably not unilaterally so if Colombia and Peru are in we should be in too.