Bolivia loses out
27/11/2008
Exporters of artisan leathergoods in Bolivia stand to lose out after the country was excluded from the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA).
The arrangement gives duty-free access to the US market to legal exports from four Andean countries—Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. However, the White House has confirmed that President George Bush has suspended Bolivia because of what the US has called the South American country's "failure to cooperate in drug-fighting efforts".
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said on November 26 that Bolivia's suspension takes effect on December 15. But she said the benefits can be restored if Bolivia "improve its performance".
The chairman of the Bolivian National Chamber of Exporters, José Ribero, said earlier this year that his organisation was in favour of ATPDEA (see leatherbiz.com June 17, 2008). He said he could see no real alternative to the set-up if Bolivian companies wanted to have access to the US market, which he pointed out was the biggest in the world for a list of important products for his members, including leathergoods.
Across all sectors, Bolivian companies exported goods worth $362.6 million to the US last year.
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