Rafael Correa: “I will not Accept Blackmail Over ATPDEA”

Rafael Correa: “It should be unacceptable to have commercial retaliation for giving asylum to a citizen (Assange)”

The business sector exposed yesterday to President Rafael Correa, the importance of trade agreements with the U.S. and the European Union, and the fear of reprisals from those countries due the asylum granted to Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange.

Ecuadorian Business Committee Chairman, Pablo Davila, called for a new strategy to regain rapprochement with the U.S. market since the tariff preferences (ATPDEA), due in July next year.

On his behalf, Correa refuted the idea and recommended the business sector to “rebel” because, according to his point of view, having granted asylum to a citizen should not be a pretext for trade retaliation.

“In February we have new elections, if I run for reelection I’m going to ratify that I will never accept any kind of blackmail and we will respond as it should be. Let them stay with their ATPDEA, and we’ll give them a few million dollars for a course on ethics and human rights”, said Correa. (MZ)