Cablegate: Andean Community Secgen Wagner's Letters To

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

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.
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