You could see this coming a mile away! Paraguay Ambassor wants FTA with US!

[Joanne98]

Ambassador encourages free-trade act between US and Paraguay
By: Ryan Shelton
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News

Just 19 years after the heavily publicized coup that ousted its controversial dictator, Alfredo Stroessner, Paraguay is experiencing unprecedented economic growth. But James Spalding, the country's U.S. ambassador, said Paraguay's success depends on building a stronger relationship with the United States.

Nestled between Argentina and Brazil, the two largest economic forces in South America, Paraguay has long struggled to compete with its neighbors in exporting goods to North America. But Spalding said Paraguay's effort to slow drug trafficking in South America in the last decade has strengthened ties with the United States -- ties that he hopes will lead to a free-trade agreement between the countries.

"Milestones have been set to solidify relationship between our countries," Spalding told an audience at the Hinckley Institute of Politics on March 28. "But unfortunately, trade between our two counties is very lopsided to Paraguay's disadvantage. For every $1 in goods that we export to the U.S., we import another $20."

Sugar and timber account for nearly two-thirds of Paraguay's exports to the United States, which according to Spalding are not sustainable products on which to build a solid trade relationship.

"No country in the long term can grow solely from agriculture," he said. "We need to (be) able to export more valued products."

Spalding said joining the Andean Trade Preference Act agreement, which now grants four South American countries tariff-free trade with the U.S., is the first step toward Paraguay's economic sustainability.

http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2008/04/04/News/Ambassador.Encourages.FreeTrade.Act.Between.Us.And.Paraguay-3304024.shtml

[hlthe2b]

1. If they will take the whole Bush* Cheney clan now with no rights

of return, I say it is Free Trade on a silver platter time....:eyes:

[panader0]

2. How about an extradition treaty too?

[Frustratedlady]

3. Didn't Bush buy a bunch of land in Paraguay?

Setting things up for retirement and increased wealth?

[antigop]

4. Does Mark Penn have a contract to help push this through? n/t

[stillcool]

5. I stopped reading after

this sentence...

But Spalding said Paraguay's effort to slow drug trafficking in South America in the last decade has strengthened ties with the United States -- ties that he hopes will lead to a free-trade agreement between the countries.