Ecuadorian delegation arrived in US to continue negotiation of a trade agreement

Representatives of the private productive sector of Ecuador arrived in Washington, US, in order to continue with the negotiation of a trade agreement between two countries.

In December 2020, both parties reached a First Phase Agreement whose protocol was ratified by the National Assembly of Ecuador on May 5.

Felipe Ribadeneira, the president of the Ecuadorian Business Committee (CEE), reported via Twitter that the businessmen held meetings with Ivonne Baki, Ecuador's ambassador in the United States, and with delegates from the United States Chamber of Commerce, including Anne Mckinney, Vice President for the Americas.

Regarding the business agenda in Washington, Ribadeneira commented that it was focused on promoting the second phase of the trade agreement between two countries, which he classified as a main means to advance exports and investments and create workplaces. 

Two days before the meeting in Washington, Julio José Prado, Ecuador's Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries, informed that they were taking steps to start negotiations with the United States to achieve a free trade agreement. The minister also participated in this meeting but online.

According to data from the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor), the United States is the main destination for non-oil products from Ecuador with 24 percent of share. Between January and March 2021, non-oil exports to the North American country increased by 10%. The main products of these shipments are bananas, cocoa, flowers, shrimps, and fish.

The visit of the Ecuadorian delegation will last until June 17. There are also planned meetings with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR); the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); the Organization of American States (OAS); Development Finance Corporation of the United States (DFC); entities of the US productive sector, with which will be discussed issues related to bilateral trade.

source: eluniverso.com