Ecuador willing to resume dialogue with the EU

Francisco Rivadeneira, Deputy Minister of Trade

Although there is still no date for resuming the dialogue between Ecuador and the European Union (EU), is expected to negotiate a trade agreement, for that the country is preparing to present a new position on the block.

The Deputy Minister of Trade, Francisco Rivadeneira, said yesterday through telephone from Bogota (Colombia), where he’s participating in the Corporate Meeting Andean, that Ecuador is working internally to prepare the new position of the country in public procurement and investment services such as strategic sectors and physical infrastructure, as ports, airports, roads, among others.

“Once that work is ready, then that will have to discussed it in the country to obtain approval even of the President (Rafael Correa), so that we can communicate with Brussels (EU headquarters) to restart the dialogues,” said Rivadeneira.

For his part, the Ecuadorian President, Rafael Correa, returned from his European tour and gave his opinion on the subject stating that Europe has proposed a technological disaggregation that will not be permanent. “We have to prepare to compete and if after that the domestic firm can not compete with Europe, and we can not protect her forever,” said Correa.

Edwin Vasquez, representative of Ecuador in the negotiations with the EU, said that to reach an agreement will depend on the willingness of both parties. “Ecuador would set those degrees of flexibility that could give and it should also introduce the EU to see if you have some degree of flexibility, such as potential reserves in strategic sectors or deadlines for the implementation of certain standards in public procurement or services.”