A US Law for Ecuador

The U.S. Congress approved a law a few days ago to take effect in Ecuador and promote cooperation in several areas.* Since a country’s law may only affect those within its borders, one can assume that this is tantamount to an American legislative measure authorizing its own administration to carry out acts of cooperation with Ecuador. As Ecuador does not have an equivalent legislative process, but rather the ability to have rejected the current law while it was being drafted, it is also conceivable that the Ecuadorian president could sign cooperation agreements with the U.S. that do not require authorization from the Assembly. In the areas of cooperation that have been highlighted, Ecuador needs support; especially in those matters related to security, as many of these issues stem from the U.S.’ anti-drug policy. Such cooperation would be like a mini–Marshall Plan to repair the damage Ecuador continues to suffer as a result of this American policy that, generally speaking, has been unsuccessful. Passage of this U.S. law coincides – if not deliberately planned to do so – with President Guillermo Lasso’s visit with President Joe Biden, the outcome of which we will know eventually. The law passed by Congress is part of the U.S.’ defense program..

It is unheard of that a law has been enacted to achieve this cooperation, something that we do not object to as such but which sets a dangerous precedent. As I mentioned a few months ago, I remember the Platt Amendment, a U.S. law that controlled Cuban customs and reserved the right to authorize or prevent Cuba from taking on loans. It is essential to always remember that when the weak and the strong become allies, the latter always wins.

The matters that the Ecuadorian president discussed with President Biden fall within the scope of that law, that is to say, they include matters of security, environmental conservation, immigration and economic cooperation. Under the law, the U.S. is providing two small Coast Guard cutters, purportedly chosen because they are part of the U.S. surplus fleet. In commercial matters, the law requires the parties to adhere to international “Most Favored Nation” principles to ensure that Ecuador receives the commercial advantages that Colombia and Peru have in their free trade agreements.

The law maintains reference to the challenges that can be presented by the malicious activities of foreign powers, which means Ecuador must subject itself to American review, something that affects our sovereignty. This entails an unnecessary reference to China, with whom a free-trade agreement is being discussed.

The support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Migration for this U.S. law suggests there will be a showdown with the National Assembly that rejected and condemned it on June 16 while it was still a U.S. Senate bill for “interfering and intervening” in the affairs of Ecuador.

*Editor’s note: The author is referring to the United States-Ecuador Partnership Act of 2022.