US embassy cable - 05LIMA5222

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. 
STRUBLE