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Peru

Peru is one of the Latin American countries which, within its neoliberal economic policy approach, has gone the furthest in pursuing FTAs in recent years.

In addition to the FTA with the US and negotiation of an Association Agreement with the EU, Peru signed an FTA with Canada in January 2007.

In November 2008, it concluded negotiations on an FTA with China. Many analysts think that China’s strategy is to use Peru as a Latin American beachhead for its products.

In its frenetic race to sign FTAs, Peru is carrying on negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA, consisting of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), Australia, India, Morocco, Israel and Russia. In addition, at the last APEC meeting in November 2008, it initiated its integration into the P4/P4 (Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership).

Despite his anti-FTA discourse, Ollanta Humala, the new Peruvian president since July 2011, has been carrying out the same policy that was carried out by Alan Garcia.

In the course of 2011, Peru signed FTAs with Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Guatemala and EFTA. In 2012, it is expected that the FTAs with the EU, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala and Costa Rica will come into force.

last update: May 2012


Peru, China to start trade talks this year
Peru and China are expected to begin free trade talks this year with expert-level discussion to open next month, Peru’s Tourism and Foreign Trade Minister Mercedes Araoz said Thursday.
Peru, China to view viability of free trade deal
Peru and China on Thursday took a first official step toward a free trade agreement that would unite one of giant Latin American metals producer and the world’s most voracious consumer.
Evo Morales rejects US-boosted FTAs
Bolivian President Evo Morales rejected on Monday the free trade agreements the United States is trying to impose on the regional nations, considering them overwhelming for small economies, and counterpoised the Trade Agreement with the Peoples.
’US-Peru FTA could deprive millions of essential drugs’
With many Peruvians already dying from treatable illness due to difficulties in accessing drugs, a UN human rights expert has expressed "deep concern" that an eventual US-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could deprive millions more of essential drugs made unaffordable by stronger protection of patents.
UN expert concerned US-Peru free trade accord could deprive poor of medicine
With many Peruvians already dying from treatable illness due to difficulties in accessing drugs, a United Nations human rights expert today voiced deep concern that an eventual United States-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could deprive millions more of essential drugs made unaffordable by stronger protection of patents.
Peru to review ban on Thai rice imports
Thailand and Peru have edged closer to forming a free trade area (FTA) following discussions between Thai Trade Representative Kantathir Suphamongkhon and Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, in which the Peruvian leader promised to exercise greater trade flexibility with Thailand than with other countries, and to review a ban on the import of Thai rice.
Peru-Thailand FTA on course
Peru’s Vice Minister of Foreign Trade Pablo de la Flor was in Bangkok earlier this week for the third round of free-trade agreement talks between Thailand and Peru.