Iván Ontaneda, Minister of Foreign Trade, reported that although a trade agreement has been closed with Chile, negotiations with Mexico are still continuing, which would lead to the integration of Ecuador into the Pacific Alliance, in that sense he recognized that very possibly the current Government does not achieve such objective
“But work has been done, we have terms of reference, Ecuador’s trade agenda has not changed or varied because trade policy must go beyond the management of a specific government.”
On the other hand, the official indicated that with the United States, the trade agenda has continued, which is why the first phase agenda framed on regulatory issues has been signed, which must be ratified by the National Assembly as well as the sheet route to be followed by the next regime in order to reach a trade agreement
He pointed out that the northern country is Ecuador’s main trading partner because in 2020 it generated an income of USD 3.2 billion: “In other words, we have an important commercial exchange that has generated a million sources of employment.”
He underlined the important commercial relations that the regime has promoted and that has allowed it to have a historical relationship in cooperation matters: “Ecuador enjoys respect and prestige that has allowed it to integrate different countries with the benefit of Ecuadorians. 82% belong to micro and medium enterprises and the popular and solidarity economy ”.
He recalled that not even the pandemic paralyzed the commercial agenda, with which a record of USD15,000 million in income was achieved last year, with a productive chain, which has allowed to sustain the sources of employment.
Ontaneda announced that the Government is currently seeking an agreement with Panama: “It is essential that Ecuador seek strategic alliances and we will continue to do so until the last day of Government.”
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