Mercosur expresses solidarity with U.S.-spurned Bolivia

[Judi Lynn]

Mercosur expresses solidarity with U.S.-spurned Bolivia
2008-12-17 11:19:58

SAUIPE COAST, Brazil, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The 36th Common Market of the South (Mercosur) Leaders Summit expressed solidarity with Bolivia on Tuesday in a communique, following U.S. President George W. Bush's suspension of Bolivia's trade preferences, which took effect Monday.

Mercosur will import Bolivian products worth 30 million U.S. dollars in 2009 in response to the U.S. government's decision to cancel Bolivia's designation as a beneficiary country under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA), citing La Paz's supposed lack of collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking.

The suspension implies that all Bolivian textiles and manufactures must pay tariffs to enter the U.S. market, the main source of income for many in South America's poorest nation.

"In solidarity with the government and people of Bolivia, we concur on the importance of agreeing on concrete emergency measures to support Bolivia, in view of the economic and social difficulties and the lack of access to the markets, against the recent unilateral suspension of extra-regional tariff preferences," the communique said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/17/content_10517902.htm

[judasdisney]

1. Wonder how the fascist Colombia voted.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Haven't seen a word on it. Will keep eyes out for anything regarding Colombia and Mercosur.

They are, after all, the only fascists in town!

http://www.elmercurio.com.ec.nyud.net:8090/web/imagenes/titulares/noticia_2007-01-11_wkJSjXnm.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com.nyud.net:8090/imageserve/02UsfrB8Ex6f2/610x.jpg

[Bacchus39]

3. Colombia is not a full member of Mercosur

I would not have thought some here were supportive of trade preferences. from the article:

"In solidarity with the government and people of Bolivia, we concur on the importance of agreeing on concrete emergency measures to support Bolivia, in view of the economic and social difficulties and the lack of access to the markets, against the recent unilateral suspension of extra-regional tariff preferences," the communique said.

The country would lose some 210 million U.S. dollars each year due to the suspension, Bolivian President Evo Morales said at the summit. He also expressed appreciation of Mercosur's decision to open its markets to Bolivian textile products.

The White House's move was an act of "revenge" in response to Bolivia's expulsion of the U.S. ambassador to La Paz for collaborating with the opposition in organizing a civil coup, Morales said.

"President George W. Bush suspended the market for Bolivian textiles, without even respecting the decision of his country's Congress, despite the second report of the United Nations saying that Bolivia is fully committed to the fight against drug trafficking," he added.

Bolivia would have filed an international lawsuit against the United States, but has suspended such a move trusting that President-elect Barack Obama would repair "this injustice, this vengeance," when he takes office, Morales said at the summit.