Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ726
2006-03-17 13:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
MORALES VOWS NEVER TO NEGOTIATE AN FTA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0011 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHLP #0726 0761323 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 171323Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8463 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 5689 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2956 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6838 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4068 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1389 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1307 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1671 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 3639 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4031 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 8550 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS LA PAZ 000726
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND LPETRONI
COMMERCE FOR JANGLIN
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR BHARMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV ECON PREL PGOV BL
SUBJECT: MORALES VOWS NEVER TO NEGOTIATE AN FTA
REF: A. LA PAZ 712
B. LA PAZ 691
UNCLAS LA PAZ 000726
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND LPETRONI
COMMERCE FOR JANGLIN
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR BHARMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV ECON PREL PGOV BL
SUBJECT: MORALES VOWS NEVER TO NEGOTIATE AN FTA
REF: A. LA PAZ 712
B. LA PAZ 691
1. (U) Summary: President Evo Morales vowed March 15 never to
negotiate a "free trade agreement," proposing instead a
People's Trade Agreement to benefit Bolivian small producers
(ref A). Business representatives reacted strongly,
declaring Morales' announcement "a shame" and reiterating
demands for a comprehensive pact. End summary.
2. (U) In a March 15 media appearance, President Evo Morales
vowed never to negotiate a "free trade agreement" with the
United States, proposing instead a People's Trade Agreement,
or Tratado de Comercio de los Pueblos, to benefit Bolivian
small producers (ref A). Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera
later clarified the statement, saying Morales proposed an
alternative agreement "as part of (an ongoing) debate,
without closing options," but declined to explain how a new
arrangement would protect the interests of microenterprises,
cooperatives, and other groups.
3. (U) Business representatives reacted strongly to Morales'
statement. Marcos Iberkleid, President of Ametex, Bolivia's
leading apparel manufacturer and largest private employer,
called the president's announcement "a shame" and reiterated
the private sector's demand for a comprehensive pact. He
said he was frustrated by the GOB's "double talk" - Morales
recently told business representatives he was open to a free
trade agreement (ref B) - and lack of coherent policy. He
and other exporters are increasingly pessimistic about their
chances of convincing the GOB to pursue a broad agreement and
note that recent conversations with GOB officials have
generated few results.
4. (SBU) Comment: Morales' proposal is more than semantics
and posturing. It is increasingly clear that he is looking
for a way to cut through the polemics surrounding "free
trade" to work toward some kind of job-creating,
export-focused pact that does not create instant populist
opposition. Morales is on a learning curve; this new spin is
a tentative step forward. End comment.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND LPETRONI
COMMERCE FOR JANGLIN
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR BHARMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV ECON PREL PGOV BL
SUBJECT: MORALES VOWS NEVER TO NEGOTIATE AN FTA
REF: A. LA PAZ 712
B. LA PAZ 691
1. (U) Summary: President Evo Morales vowed March 15 never to
negotiate a "free trade agreement," proposing instead a
People's Trade Agreement to benefit Bolivian small producers
(ref A). Business representatives reacted strongly,
declaring Morales' announcement "a shame" and reiterating
demands for a comprehensive pact. End summary.
2. (U) In a March 15 media appearance, President Evo Morales
vowed never to negotiate a "free trade agreement" with the
United States, proposing instead a People's Trade Agreement,
or Tratado de Comercio de los Pueblos, to benefit Bolivian
small producers (ref A). Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera
later clarified the statement, saying Morales proposed an
alternative agreement "as part of (an ongoing) debate,
without closing options," but declined to explain how a new
arrangement would protect the interests of microenterprises,
cooperatives, and other groups.
3. (U) Business representatives reacted strongly to Morales'
statement. Marcos Iberkleid, President of Ametex, Bolivia's
leading apparel manufacturer and largest private employer,
called the president's announcement "a shame" and reiterated
the private sector's demand for a comprehensive pact. He
said he was frustrated by the GOB's "double talk" - Morales
recently told business representatives he was open to a free
trade agreement (ref B) - and lack of coherent policy. He
and other exporters are increasingly pessimistic about their
chances of convincing the GOB to pursue a broad agreement and
note that recent conversations with GOB officials have
generated few results.
4. (SBU) Comment: Morales' proposal is more than semantics
and posturing. It is increasingly clear that he is looking
for a way to cut through the polemics surrounding "free
trade" to work toward some kind of job-creating,
export-focused pact that does not create instant populist
opposition. Morales is on a learning curve; this new spin is
a tentative step forward. End comment.
GREENLEE