Andina

Peru marks 10th anniversary of Peru-U.S. FTA implementation

10:51 | Lima, Dec. 5.

The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commemorated the 10th anniversary since the signing of the United States-Peru Free Trade Agreement with the forum "10 years since the Peru-U.S. FTA entry into force: impact and perspectives."

The Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) came into effect on February 1, 2009, and was the first new-generation trade agreement signed by the Inca country, which removed barriers on the free exchange of goods and services with the United States.

The agreement covered broader aspects such as investments, intellectual property, public purchases, as well as labor and environmental matters, among others.

In this way, said instrument marked a milestone in Peru's commercial relationship, not only with the United States, but with the entire world, thus becoming a State policy and a model for future negotiations with other countries.

The speakers led an analysis of the importance of the FTA negotiation and implementation process for Peru's foreign policy, as well as an interesting debate about the impact the agreement has had on commercial dynamics and its perspectives within the current international context.

In the political-diplomatic sphere, the role played by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in the diverse stages of the process was highlighted: prior negotiations, negotiation and agreement ratification, as well as its role in the corresponding implementation through the economic-commercial promotion actions developed in coordination with the public and private sectors.

Over the last 10 years, trade between Peru and the U.S. registered an increase of at least 50%, climbing from US$11 billion in 2008 to over US$17 billion in 2018.


Thanks to the Agreement, products —such as grapes, asparagus, blueberries, avocados, mangoes, tangerines, and coffee— lead Peruvian agro-exports, generating opportunities, employment, and well-being. Likewise, the United States is the main destination for our non-traditional exports, which have almost doubled since the FTA entered into force.

The meeting —organized by Peru's Ministry of Foreign Affairs— was staged in collaboration with the Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) and saw the participation of Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Jaime PomaredaU.S. Ambassador to Peru Krishna R. Urs, and AS/COA Vice President Ragnhild Melzi.

The event also featured distinguished panelists representing public, private, and academic sectors, such as former Foreign Affairs Minister and ex-Peruvian Ambassador to U.S. Eduardo Ferrero, CCL's Foreign Trade Research and Development Institute (Idexcam) Executive-Director Carlos Posada, international relations expert Farid Kahhat, and Association of Peruvian Exporters (Adex) Chairman Erik Fischer.

(END) NDP/RMCH/RMB/MVB

Published: 12/5/2019