Andean FTA may produce the Ruin of Colombia and Others

Peasant Impoverishment. Environment Destruction. Immigration




As it stands today ( August 31 of 2005 ) the Andean FTA is a leonine contract. It is said that it will be signed in October of 2005.

American Cereals enter Colombia with subsidies of US $100 per ton and free of duties from the First Day.

There is no reciprocity and Colombian Agriculture is stopped by the USA with long periods of custom taxes and all types of fitosanitary Whims, Fancies and Caprices.

I never saw a more unjust contract in all my life. Colombia gave everything, the U. S. absolutely nothing.

This will produce the ruin of millions of peasants. They will become beggars in the streets or destroy the Tropical Jungle, the Amazonian Basin, the lungs of the Earth.

Finally there would be a lot of Emigration in a country that is noted for having sent away millions of its habitants.

And U. S. Foreign Policy will be completely discredited and disgraced. Because Colombia has been "the best ally in Latin America".

Vicente Duque