A trade agreement is not in the plans of Ecuador, nor of the United States

The commercial relationship with the new United States Government worries the national business sector for the continuity of tariff preferences that country unilaterally grants to Ecuadorian products and that will expire on December 31. Juan Carlos Cassinelli, Minister of Foreign Trade, reveals the road map that Ecuador will take with that country.

The business community has always insisted on starting talks for an agreement with the United States, is it viable?

The success of commercial management in a country is not measured by the number of agreements or treaties it may have, but by the content of those agreements, that is, speaking of a free trade agreement with the United States is neither on the agenda of the current US government.

What is the commercial relationship with that country?

Together with the European Union they represent 60% of the destination of our non-oil exports, but it is also the most diversified destination, it is where more things can be placed at the same time, therefore, the United States as an export destination is a market we have to take great care of and we have done it; we currently have been granted a tariff preferences regime for all our products.

And what is the current relationship with the new Government?

The relationship is fluid, we will have to see what will be the position of the new Government in commercial matters, however, we are already planning another visit to the United States Department of Commerce to update our request on the subject of tariff preferences.