Comments on: Peru, Yes; Colombia? Free Trade Agreements: Lessons from Latin America’s Recent Past http://www.coha.org/peru-yes-colombia-free-trade-agreements-lessons-from-latin-america%e2%80%99s-recent-past/ COHA is an NGO specialized in monitoring Latin American and Canadian Relations for more than 30 years... Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:22:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: admin http://www.coha.org/peru-yes-colombia-free-trade-agreements-lessons-from-latin-america%e2%80%99s-recent-past/comment-page-1/#comment-2208 admin Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:28:59 +0000 http://www.coha.org/2007/12/06/peru-yes-colombia-free-trade-agreements-lessons-from-latin-america%e2%80%99s-recent-past/#comment-2208 COHA's response to commentary on this piece is now available in the forum. http://cohaforum.blogspot.com/2007/12/cohas-response-to-commentary-on-ftas.html COHA’s response to commentary on this piece is now available in the forum.
http://cohaforum.blogspot.com/2007/12/cohas-response-to-commentary-on-ftas.html

]]> By: Institute of the Americas http://www.coha.org/peru-yes-colombia-free-trade-agreements-lessons-from-latin-america%e2%80%99s-recent-past/comment-page-1/#comment-1979 Institute of the Americas Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:43:46 +0000 http://www.coha.org/2007/12/06/peru-yes-colombia-free-trade-agreements-lessons-from-latin-america%e2%80%99s-recent-past/#comment-1979 Amb. Paul H. Boeker, unfortunately, passed away in 2003. Amb. Paul H. Boeker, unfortunately, passed away in 2003.

]]> By: Alejandro Velez http://www.coha.org/peru-yes-colombia-free-trade-agreements-lessons-from-latin-america%e2%80%99s-recent-past/comment-page-1/#comment-1967 Alejandro Velez Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:35:47 +0000 http://www.coha.org/2007/12/06/peru-yes-colombia-free-trade-agreements-lessons-from-latin-america%e2%80%99s-recent-past/#comment-1967 The previous ISI were not crafted with any more participation and benefitted even less people. Improvements in retailing connected with FTA's would benefit countless low income consumers. LA has 60-yr old "infant industries' which have been notoriously inept in preparing area for global competition The previous ISI were not crafted with any more participation and benefitted even less people. Improvements in retailing connected with FTA’s would benefit countless low income consumers. LA has 60-yr old “infant industries’ which have been notoriously inept in preparing area for global competition

]]> By: Hugo Fitch http://www.coha.org/peru-yes-colombia-free-trade-agreements-lessons-from-latin-america%e2%80%99s-recent-past/comment-page-1/#comment-1963 Hugo Fitch Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:15:07 +0000 http://www.coha.org/2007/12/06/peru-yes-colombia-free-trade-agreements-lessons-from-latin-america%e2%80%99s-recent-past/#comment-1963 "Aside from Chávez-inspired anti-neoliberal campaigns and the relative minority of economists who feel that free trade does not automatically register a win-win situation" I think you credit one politician with too much influence. A minority of economists? LatAm is better educated than you think. It's not just economists like Rafael Correa, but the Argentinian government, and the bitter experience of the poor of the whole continent that can demonstrate what these deals really mean - more inequality. Please don't be so dismissive of those who oppose FTAs. If the US wants favourable deals it must concede rights to nations who cannot afford to subsidise their own markets on the US/EU models, namely the chance to protect them with specific tariffs. But such deals are never put on the table, because FTAs are not about fairness but profit and buying influence to stop LatAm working together for itself. “Aside from Chávez-inspired anti-neoliberal campaigns and the relative minority of economists who feel that free trade does not automatically register a win-win situation”

I think you credit one politician with too much influence. A minority of economists? LatAm is better educated than you think. It’s not just economists like Rafael Correa, but the Argentinian government, and the bitter experience of the poor of the whole continent that can demonstrate what these deals really mean – more inequality. Please don’t be so dismissive of those who oppose FTAs. If the US wants favourable deals it must concede rights to nations who cannot afford to subsidise their own markets on the US/EU models, namely the chance to protect them with specific tariffs. But such deals are never put on the table, because FTAs are not about fairness but profit and buying influence to stop LatAm working together for itself.

]]> By: Richard Vizor http://www.coha.org/peru-yes-colombia-free-trade-agreements-lessons-from-latin-america%e2%80%99s-recent-past/comment-page-1/#comment-1953 Richard Vizor Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:18:10 +0000 http://www.coha.org/2007/12/06/peru-yes-colombia-free-trade-agreements-lessons-from-latin-america%e2%80%99s-recent-past/#comment-1953 COHA’s very first sentence turned me off. These guys have their Presidents mixed up. The accusations about massive human rights abuses refer to the actions of Fujimori (who is now facing trial for some of these) … and NOT Garcia. And speaking about the violations of human rights … these were first and foremost perpetrated by members of the Sendero Luminoso. Yes, there were violations committed by the Authorities … as will happen in any War … which was in fact, started by Sendero during Belaunde’s second term as President. And yes, there was a horrible incident during Garcia’s first term at a prison in which many Sendero were killed. But to categorically state that there were massive human rights violations during Garcia’s first term is nonsense and totally incorrect. If they want to find massive, tell them to look up Fujimorii’s tenure and, the actions of Montesino. In fact, this is what Fujimori’s is most favorably known for in Peru … he stopped the Sendero. It certainly was not Garcia who had already vacated power BEFORE the most gruesome of the Sendero’s actions (and, the Government’s reactions to them). Get your facts straightened out, Messrs. COHA !!! COHA’s very first sentence turned me off. These guys have their Presidents mixed up. The accusations about massive human rights abuses refer to the actions of Fujimori (who is now facing trial for some of these) … and NOT Garcia.

And speaking about the violations of human rights … these were first and foremost perpetrated by members of the Sendero Luminoso. Yes, there were violations committed by the Authorities … as will happen in any War … which was in fact, started by Sendero during Belaunde’s second term as President. And yes, there was a horrible incident during Garcia’s first term at a prison in which many Sendero were killed.

But to categorically state that there were massive human rights violations during Garcia’s first term is nonsense and totally incorrect. If they want to find massive, tell them to look up Fujimorii’s tenure and, the actions of Montesino.

In fact, this is what Fujimori’s is most favorably known for in Peru … he stopped the Sendero.

It certainly was not Garcia who had already vacated power BEFORE the most gruesome of the Sendero’s actions (and, the Government’s reactions to them).

Get your facts straightened out, Messrs. COHA !!!

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