Quito, Ecuador – Ecuador’s communications minister says the country is renouncing trade preferences that are up for U.S. congressional renewal.
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It comes as Ecuador considers the asylum request of NSA leaker Edward Snowden, which has prompted critics in the U.S. to suggest retaliation against the South American country.
Minister Fernando Alvarado told a news conference Thursday the benefits were originally granted for help in the fight against drugs but have become “an instrument of blackmail.” He said “Ecuador unilaterally and irrevocably renounces said preferences.”
The program has given Ecuador millions of dollars in benefits, but it faced an uphill fight for renewal. Alvarado did not mention another effort to win trade benefits under a presidential order.
Alvarez said his country won’t bow “to mercantile interests, as important as they may be
Wow! This guy puts his money where his mouth is!!! Nicely done!
Sounds good. U.S. will keep the money.
And if China does the same maybe we could get back the jobs into the US
Wow it seems like everywhere this guy Snowden wants to go they want him, looks like he has ALOT of protection!
“You can’t fire me – I quit!”