China is awaiting the internal process being carried out in Ecuador on the trade agreement signed by both nations, which is currently in the National Assembly awaiting further discussion and a subsequent vote, according to Gustavo Cáceres, president of the Ecuadorian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

The leader indicated that the Asian country, “through the spokesperson of the People’s Republic of China here in Ecuador, Ambassador Chen Guoyou, is very aware of what is developing here.” He added that the diplomat “actively participated” in the discussions, meetings with different representatives in the Assembly with the intention of making known exactly the technical and practical benefits of what the agreement includes for both Ecuador and China.

“I understand that there was a conversation, an approach to try to socialize this issue more, because many of the positions that were presented in this first discussion pointed out that it was a little ignorant, in some a political position, which we oppose because “This is a project for the benefit of the country, which should not be approved or not because of a political stance,” Cáceres said.

Seven former foreign trade ministers are asking the National Assembly to ratify the trade agreement with China

The views against and for the agreement, which was signed in May 2023, have become increasingly pronounced in recent weeks. On the one hand, some civil society organizations have expressed concern about whether the agreement will be ratified, while those who support it point to the benefits once the trade instrument enters into force.

The last statement was made by seven former foreign trade ministers who asked the National Assembly to ratify it. On January 11, the Plenary Assembly started the debate on the text of the agreement, but the session was interrupted and it is not known to this day when the session will be resumed to continue the discussion.

According to Jonathan Parra, of the ruling National Democratic Action (ADN) alliance, the Speaker of the National Assembly (Henry Kronfle) has the power to reopen the session to continue discussing the agreement.

According to Cáceres, the assembly members from Construye and Gente Buena are the ones who show doubts, while the Social Christian and the official National Democratic Action have openly expressed their position in favor, while the bench of the Civil Revolution has shown a resounding no because it believes that it is a project of the previous government and that therefore it should not be discussed. “There are still people who, perhaps because the document has not been fully distributed, are not convinced, but we are working on it so that it can be approved next week,” he revealed.

Parra, who chairs the Committee on International Relations and Human Mobility and where the report on the agreement was prepared, indicated that through various media he is communicating “the truth about the document” and how positive it is for the ratifying country, given its importance in reactivating the economy and opening jobs, money that is needed in these difficult times in Ecuador. “I am sure that our fellow members of the assembly will start a discussion and we will discuss without lies and hatred, as the Ecuadorian people deserve,” he said.

While Cecilia Chérrez, who is part of the Ecuador Decide Better without FTA network, indicated that after they wrote an open letter to the members of the assembly on the trade agreement, they issued a statement that was basically a warning about what could happen inside the National Assembly after the session was prematurely terminated. “We believe that there is a scenario of pressure on parliamentarians who could ask for votes to approve the agreement, it is important for us to point out that social organizations, the population in the provinces can also turn to their legislators. and ask them about their position on the defense of human rights, the right to nature and not being subjected to the pressures that exist with these calculations behind the agreement,” he said.

Chérrez added that they encountered social sectors that are very sensitive to the fact that the agreement “represents an open door for the entry of waste from China that could seriously affect the territories of peasants, indigenous peoples and Afro-descendants”, so they remain vigilant, as well as in socialization activities to reveal warnings in some provinces, so that there is more information and the progress can be followed within the National Assembly.

Adoption of a free trade agreement with China is at risk due to a lack of votes, putting the government and its allies in trouble

“Waste is used in industry in the form of recycling”

According to Cáceres, the argument that the country, once the trade agreement enters into force, will be used as a “waste destination” has been rejected in several statements by the Minister of Production, Sonsoles García, by former ministers, even from the Chamber itself. , according to which “the trade agreement does not change anything to the current conditions that the country has” and that is because it is prohibited by the Constitution, the Organic Code on the Environment and the laws established by the Ministry of Production.

Furthermore, currently the waste that is imported to be recycled and turned into new products, its main country of origin is the United States. “It is not that we will be able to bring waste to throw it here in the park, in the river, in an empty place, no, it is waste that is used so that the industry turns it into recycling, as this economies circulate in the final products . “We don’t see the sense that an Ecuadorian businessman wants to import garbage…” he said.

Meanwhile, Chérrez, who is also part of Acción Ecológica, pointed out that “obviously the political actors who have spoken have their perspective”, however, social organizations have their position against it because they base it on the text of the agreement. “They even said that the environmental measures are firm, but this is not the case, we found several articles where a great deal of discretion was left in environmental control, which leads us to propose to the National Assembly that it cannot give consent without passing an in-depth study on the content of the agreement.” , He said.

In this context, the activist called on the legislature to open a space for dialogue with social organizations. “There is a very large platform of social organizations that analyze the agreement and constantly raise warnings. The last statement we made now exceeds 120 organizations complying with the warning statement,” he noted.

The Constitutional Court has approved a trade agreement between Ecuador and China and is asking the executive to send it to the National Assembly as soon as it takes office

However, according to Cáceres, if the agreement is approved in the debate, the next step is to send a statement to the Chinese government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announcing that Ecuador has fulfilled everything stated in the Constitution. and a response from China would be expected. “I know from the embassy (that) it is positive, it means that we are at a moment where the agreement depends 100% on the decision of our members of the assembly because it has been approved by the Chinese government,” he said. emphatically.