On Thursday, an Ecuadorian commission will travel to the northern country to begin prenegotiations. The GSP is not a priority for Congress, said Chapman.

The US ambassador, Todd Chapman, yesterday marked in Guayaquil the guidelines of his country to reach a trade agreement with Ecuador and warned that the renewal of the General System of Tariff Preferences (GSP) is not among the priorities of the Congress.

On this last point, the Minister of Foreign Trade, Pablo Campana, explained that Ecuador is among those eligible to benefit from the GSP, but stressed that it is still short term and therefore the importance of a trade agreement.

In his presentation during the I Trade and Investment Forum, Chapman indicated that what the US is looking for it is stability, legal certainty, compliance with the law and reduction of country risk. He welcomed that Ecuador now generates a perception of greater security and openness.

He clarified that his government will protect American workers and intellectual property. "Recovering this aspect is the task of the US" It is at this point that a problem arises towards China, and Ecuador does not stay out, since Chapman gave the example of using software without a license, "what is a robbery".

The objections to China go further, which is why Chapman expressed US concern. for the investment of that country in Latin America. An Ecuadorian commission will travel to the US tomorrow with the intention of reactivating the Council of Commerce and Investments.

Campana stressed that the ideologies do not enter the negotiations and added that the figure for the commercial agreement has not yet been defined. USA represents for Ecuador a third of its non-oil exports. Chapman said that $ 5.6 billion was moved by the commercial exchange until November 2017.

The representative of the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor), Iván Ontaneda, stressed that his sector moves $ 11,500 million and that they are interested in negotiating with the United States. For its part, the tuna sector is also looking forward to a commercial agreement. Bruno Leone, from the Chamber of Fisheries, expects it to be completed in 2018.

Minister Campana highlighted the Government's decision to declare direct private investment as State policy. Therefore, at the same time, it is negotiating with nine nations to attract investments and encourage exports, which will mean an increase in production and employment (El Telégrafo). We will be glad to provide advice in the areas mentioned.

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