President Barack Obama has declined to restore trade benefits under the Andean Trade Preference Act to Bolivia, citing the Bolivian government's acceptance of coca growing. The decision came in a Tuesday report from the office of the US Trade Representative.
Since assuming the presidency, Morales has dramatically changed Bolivian drug policy from "zero coca" to "zero cocaine, not zero coca." Coca production has seen slight annual increases under Morales, but Bolivia remains only the third largest coca and cocaine producer, behind Colombia and Peru.
"The current challenges include the explicit acceptance and encouragement of coca production at the highest levels of the Bolivian government; government tolerance of and attractive income from increased and unconstrained coca cultivation in both the Yungas and Chapare regions; and increased and uncontrolled sale of coca to drug traffickers," the report scolded. "The efficiency and success of eradication efforts have significantly declined in the past few years."
Tensions between La Paz and Washington have been high in recent years as Morales has defended the use and cultivation of coca and expelled US diplomats after accusing them of intervening in Bolivian internal affairs. Bolivia's close relationship with Venezuela under the leadership of President Hugo Chavez hasn't helped, either.
And this won't help, either. President Morales reacted angrily Wednesday, saying the move contradicted Obama's vow to treat Latin America countries as equals. "President Obama lied to Latin America when he told us in Trinidad and Tobago that there are not senior and junior partners," he told reporters. The report, he added, used "pure lies and insults" to justify its decision.
coca leaves
I tried some coca leaves and they are wonderful, natural and kind.
No wonder Washington hates coca.
Equal Trade
Obviously Bolivia needs to open up to American Exports of Crystal Meth.
Bolivian Autonomy
Bolivia, like a lot of Central and South America, is sick of it's white minority selling the country to the United States. It elected a man who vowed to stop that sell off and who kept that vow by expelling the US and nationalizing the hydrocarbon sector. He is a hero to the indigenous majority and should be to the balance of the country. Obama should take the time to understand this man and try to find a way to honor a few of his campaign promises. On the subject of Cocoa; Morales has a 0 tolerance for Cocaine and a policy of full tolerance for Cocoa. The country is developing many products that will support the growth of the Cocoa leaf for uses other than Cocaine. If successful, this new trade will change the face of the Andes. I don't know about you but I'm SICKOF this country's lies about a good neighbor to the south, and the rest of the world for that matter.
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