(C/NF) ECUADOR'S IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

S E C R E T STATE 092995

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2034
TAGS: PINR ECON ETRD CO EC
SUBJECT: (C/NF) ECUADOR'S IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
(C-AL9-01768)

Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS INTEND TO WRITE AN ASSESSMENT
ADDRESSING THE COLOMBIA-ECUADOR DISPUTE OVER ECUADOR'S NEW
TARIFFS ON COLOMBIAN GOODS. AS EMBASSY IS AWARE, THE
COMMUNITY OF ANDEAN NATIONS (CAN) SECRETARIAT APPROVED
ECUADOR'S TARIFFS ON A TEMPORARY BASIS, AND IN PRESS IT
APPEARS THAT BOGOTA IS REJECTING THIS DECISION. AS TIME AND
RESOURCES PERMIT, WE WOULD APPRECIATE REPORTING RELATED TO
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. MANY THANKS.


A. (U) FOR QUITO:

1) (C/NF) WAS QUITO'S DECISION TO IMPOSE TARIFFS AGAINST
COLOMBIAN GOODS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED? IF SO, WHAT DID THE
ECUADORIAN GOVERNMENT HOPE TO GAIN?

2) (C/NF) DOES QUITO BELIEVE THE RESTRICTIONS WILL IMPROVE
ECUADOR'S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS? BY HOW MUCH? HOW LONG DOES
QUITO PLAN TO IMPOSE THESE TARIFFS.?


B. (U) FOR BOGOTA:

1) (C/NF) WHAT ARGUMENTS DOES BOGOTA MAKE IN OPPOSING THE
TARIFFS?

2) (C/NF) WHAT DOES BOGOTA PLAN TO DO IF DIALOGUE WITH
QUITO DOES NOT PAN OUT? WOULD BOGOTA APPEAL TO AN
INTERNATIONAL BODY OR THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION?

3) (C/NF) WHAT ARE THE DETAILS OF THE CAN DECISION? WHAT
PART(S) OF THE RULING DOES BOGOTA DISPUTE?


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-01768 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON