By Ecuadorian ambassador
Nathalie Cely - 06/11/12 09:00 AM ET
The arrival
last month of the U.S. ambassador to Ecuador Adam Namm, and my presence here in
Washington since January as the Ecuadorian ambassador, mark a positive new step
in an important bilateral relationship. The U.S.-Ecuador relationship is
strengthening, drawing on mutual interests and shared values that promote
economic and cultural ties between our countries.
Our people
enjoy close bonds. Many Ecuadorians have chosen to make the United States their
home, contributing to strengthening the American economy. And over the past few
years, many Americans have moved to Ecuador, attracted by Ecuador’s investment
opportunities, beauty and quality of life. With more than 1.5 million
Ecuadorians now living in America and 25,000 Americans living in Ecuador, a
close partnership is necessary.
Both countries
also share important goals and policies with respect to security issues,
protecting the environment and providing strong economic and social
opportunities for our citizens. In order to achieve our fullest potential, it
is important that our two nations reestablish and actively engage in the
Bilateral Dialogue mechanism established in 2008 to discuss our differences and
work proactively to further our common interests.
Today, the
Government of Ecuador is working closely with the United States on drug-related
crop eradication. The U.S. recognizes that Ecuador is not an illicit drug
producing country, and studies by the UN Office of Drug and Crime show that
Ecuador remains vigilant in taking strong preventive action to ensure this status
continues. However, we live in a dangerous region, surrounded on both borders
by nations struggling with major drug production.
Of course, the
drug problem cannot persist without demand, and the U.S. now consumes over $65
billion worth of illegal drugs every year – well over half of the world’s total
production. Only a coordinated and integrated strategy, which attacks both
supply and demand, can be successful. For this reason, we are glad the Obama
Administration is putting emphasis on deterring consumption.
Moving forward,
there is great potential for our relationship in the economic and security
spheres. Currently, the main pillar of economic and security cooperation
between our two countries is the highly successful “Andean Trade Promotion and
Drug Eradication Act” (ATPDEA), which enables both countries to reap important
benefits.
The ATPDEA has
also produced, and will continue to produce, massive economic advantages to
America and Ecuador. As noted in the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) 2012
National Trade Estimate Report, exports to Ecuador last year were $6.1 billion,
up 27 percent from 2007 – the highest growth rate among Latin American
countries. Corresponding U.S. imports from Ecuador were $9.6 billion, up 29.1
percent from 2010.
The ATPDEA has
also been the best cooperation tool both countries share to combat drug
trafficking. The program has been increasingly successful in achieving its goal
of preventing drug trafficking in Latin America, and has been essential in
creating employment opportunities that encourage development in Ecuador,
allowing the country to focus on drug eradication.
Particularly,
ATPDEA-dependent products that flourish near the north-central Colombian
border, known for its opium and coca-leaf plantations, have helped displace
drug production while supporting development in the region. As the USTR
explains in a 2010 report, the government “has continued to reinforce its
security presence in the northern border area with an increased number of
military operations each year since 2007.”
By spurring
economic growth and security in Ecuador, the ATPDEA has also allowed the
government to improve various development indicators, such as reducing poverty
and inequality. In five years, Ecuador has reduced poverty from 37.6 percent in
2006 to 28.6 percent in 2011. According to a May 2012 report by the UK's Centre
for Economic Policy Research, “Ecuador’s recovery from the recent recession has
been robust enough to show real progress in the labor market. Unemployment is
currently at 4.9 percent, while the minimum wage has risen by about 40 percent
in real terms.”
Aided by the
ATPDEA, the government has nurtured initiatives to support the private sector,
civil society, education and the environment. Our international credit rating
has continuously improved in the midst of a global recession, and we have
warmly welcomed an increase in foreign investors, including many American
companies who have started or expanded business in the country. We are proud to
announce that Halliburton and Schlumberger, among others, have started business
in Ecuador.
The ATPDEA is a
“win-win” policy for both countries. But its renewal in the U.S. is by no means
secure. Standing in the way is a well-oiled lobbying campaign, organized and
funded by special interest groups with a narrow agenda. They seek to hold
thousands of jobs hostage to support their personal interests.
We are
confident that good policy will prevail, and the ATPDEA will be renewed by the
U.S. when it is up for extension in 2013. Such a move will ensure that the best
days for U.S.-Ecuador relations are ahead of us.
