ANDEAN COMMUNITY SECGEN WAGNER'S LETTERS TO

UNCLAS LIMA 005222 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-O, WHA/AND PASS TO USTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL ETRD PE SUBJECT: ANDEAN COMMUNITY SECGEN WAGNER'S LETTERS TO SECSTATE AND USTR ¶1. The Embassy has received identical faxed letters, dated 12/6, from Andean Community Secretary General Allan Wagner to the Secretary and to U.S. Trade Representative Portman. The letters express concerns that the U.S.-Andean Free Trade Agreement could have a negative impact on the Bolivian soybean industry. The original hard copy of this letter will be forwarded by pouch when received. A copy of the faxed letter is being forwarded to WHA/AND. ¶2. Begin text of letter: Excellency, I have the honor to inform you that, on an official visit to La Paz, Bolivia last Thursday, I met with the President of that country, Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez Veltze, who let me (sic) how deeply concerned he is over the possible damage to Bolivia of the negotiation by three Andean countries of a Free Trade Agreement with the United States of America. If soybeans and their byproducts are placed in the basket of products for short-term tariff reduction, that damage will be inevitable. The Minister for Peasant and Agricultural Affairs of Bolivia expressed that same concern on a recent visit to the General Secretariat in Lima. Both of these officials have stated that, for Bolivia, it is essential for the tariff reduction period for soybeans and there byproducts be as long as possible, in order to give the country enough time to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of those products through complementarity arrangements with Andean and South American countries. It is for that reason that I wish to ask you to consider Bolivia's sensitivities. The situation is vitally important to that country because its exports of soybeans and their byproducts to the Andean market play a key role in the country's economic, social and even political sustainability. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my deepest and highest consideration. /s/ Allan Wagner Tizon Secretary General SIPDIS End Text. STRUBLE