Ecuador nixes trade deal, offers US cash for 'education about human rights'
** Note as pointed out by DCBob the reason for this kerfuffle is that Sen. Robert Menendez opened his big trap to screw up any diplomatic moves going on behind the scenes. If there were any and I don't see why not at least some movement was going on regarding the upcoming trade agreements. So he did that to attack Correa. He's a right wing pig about Latin America, especially Cuba, and now crosshairs on Correa. Not good for anyone because China will take up the slack and get more favorable access to natural resources. imo
**Ecuador sasses Uncle Sam after realizing that they couldn't utilize Snowden to extend a favorable trade agreement (things like brocolli and flowers) with the USA. No roses for Obama!
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Ecuador unilaterally canceled its trade deal with the United States on Thursday and offered to provide $23 million a year to help the country with its “human rights” education, the latest twist in a showdown over NSA leaker Edward Snowden.
The move follows a "threat" made earlier this week by U.S. lawmakers not to renew an expiring preferential trade deal with Ecuador if the country grants Snowden's request for political asylum, Communications Secretary Fernando Alvarado told reporters in Quito.
Snowden remains in the transit area of the Moscow airport and Ecuador has said it could take months to process his application.
“Ecuador gives up, unilaterally and irrevocably, the said customs benefits,” Alvarado said, according to Reuters.
“What's more, Ecuador offers the United States economic aid of $23 million annually, similar to what we received with the trade benefits, with the intention of providing education about human rights."
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/americas/308167-ecuador-nixes-trade-deal-offers-to-educate-us-on-human-rights-in-showdown-over-snowden#ixzz2XRvMk3Qr
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