ECUADOR REVIEW REGARDING TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 002750

SIPDIS

PASS TO WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2015
TAGS: ETRD PREL CU EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR REVIEW REGARDING TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD
ACT

REF: STATE 207359

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jefferson T. Brown, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d
)


1. (C) In response to reftel request, Post provides the
following information regarding trade and other relations
between Ecuador and Cuba. Trade between the two countries is
not extensive. In 2004, Ecuador exports to Cuba, mostly oil,
totaled $14,437,920 (CIF) and Ecuadorian imports from Cuba
totaled only $286,230 (CIF).


2. (C) The vast majority of Ecuadorian exports to Cuba (60%)
were crude oil exports. The next largest exported product
was tuna (4%),with other products each amounting to no more
than 3% of the total. Ecuadorian exporters include
PetroEcuador (the state-owned oil company),Adelca (steel),
Indurama (white goods),La Fabril (edible oils),Nestle (milk
powder),several rose exporters such as Florisol, Rosas
Unicas, Loveroses, Nevado Ecuador Roses, Cia. de Elaborados
de Cafe Elcafe and Kavecafe (coffee),Pinturas Condor
(paint),Ind. de Enlatados Alimenticios (canned goods),
Farmacia Espinosa and Grunenthal Ecuatoriana
(pharmaceuticals),Hilantex (textiles),and Corporacion
Industrial Fishing Corp. (fish).


3. (C) The bulk of imports that Ecuador received from Cuba in
2004 (33%) were not classified into any category. The
largest amount of imports that were classified (22% of total
imports) was vaccines. The next largest category was
synthetic plasma (18%). Each of the other imports accounted
for less than 3% of the total imports Ecuador received from
Cuba. Among the importers were: Medicina Cubana, Novartis
Ecuador, Laboratorios Bago, Muebles y Diversidades Muedirsa,
NedtransEcuador and the following individuals, Carlos Garcia,
Manuela Ribadeneira Q., Patricio Yepez, Carmita Marina Pineda
Carrion, Mariuxi Johanna Rendon Meneses and Noralma Beatriz
Vera Arrata.


4. (C) Cuba has also sent teachers and medical doctors to
Ecuador. Several months ago Vice President Alejandro Serrano
made an official visit to Cuba, linked to a graduation
ceremony for Ecuadorian medical personnel. The GOE notified
Post in advance of that visit.
BROWN