Peru: Date for FTA debate to be set
Peru: Date for FTA Debate to Be Set
Lima, Apr 17 2006 (Prensa Latina) The draft free trade agreement with the US still lacks a date for discussion in the Peruvian Congress Constitution Committee as the text has not yet been submitted, Parliament Speaker Antero Flores said Monday.
What was submitted to Congress last Wednesday was a civil petition urging the Committee to hold a referendum on the treaty, considered detrimental to national interests, especially for farmers.
No date has been set to start discussion for the popular consultation or mechanisms to compensate farmers.
Signed in Washington on April 12, the FTA now requires ratification by both legislatures to be put in force.
"The copy of the project first must be submitted to members of the Committee, but I don’t know if it will be this very week," Flores explained. Discussion is facing heavy opposition from the Aprista Party (APRA).
