Ecuador-US FTA hinges on farming
Prensa Latina, Cuba
Ecuador-US FTA Hinges on Farming
16 February 2006
Quito, Feb 16 (Prensa Latina) Ecuadorian Foreign Affaire Minister Jorge Illingworth asserted that a Free Trade Agreement with the US would basically depend on a favorable agriculture deal.
"If there is no good negotiation on farming, there is no free trade agreement" with the US, Illingworth told foreign reporters.
The minister said he decided to postpone talks for March because US negotiators had not responded to his proposals on the issue.
We urged the US officials to resume talks on farming and seek a consensus, but the US should respond first, he pointed out.
Illingworth stated he focused on northern countries, where Ecuadorian possibilities to export its products are greater, since its deficit with South America amounts to nearly two billion dollars.
