A hundred social organizations sign a manifesto against the Andean FTA
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A hundred social organizations sign a manifesto against the Andean FTA
posted 8-September-2004
Freely translated by Anoosha Boralessa (Nov 2015). Not reviewed by bilaterals.org or any other organization or person.
In their 11 point manifesto, the organizations explain that it is not appropriate for the country to sign an FTA with the US because this would result in the State having less control over reviewing transnational corporations and promoting and consolidating privatization. It would also eliminate the possibility of using public procurement to reactivate the national productive apparatus of the state.
Furthermore, the manifesto indicates that the FTA would reduce and limit access to health and to medicines; it would promote intellectual property rights to transnationals over plants and animals; it would place commercial farmers, small peasant producers and indigenous people in conditions of unequal competition; it would incentivize trade in transgenic food and seeds that are harmful for health, nature and biodiversity.
Finally, organizations consider the FTA prioritizes the export sector without taking account of the majority of employees. It does not protect workers; it generates more unemployment and is negotiated by public officials trained by US Cooperation Agencies and violates the following articles of the National Constitution: 1, 4, 30, 135, 139, 141, 142, 144 and 145.
For these reasons, the social bloc declares that it is convinced that it must neither join in the FTA negotiations nor sign a treaty with the US.
