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  1. Negotiations

Peru

Peru is one of the Latin American countries which, within its neoliberal economic policy approach, has gone the furthest in pursuing FTAs in recent years.

In addition to the FTA with the US and negotiation of an Association Agreement with the EU, Peru signed an FTA with Canada in January 2007.

In November 2008, it concluded negotiations on an FTA with China. Many analysts think that China’s strategy is to use Peru as a Latin American beachhead for its products.

In its frenetic race to sign FTAs, Peru is carrying on negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA, consisting of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), Australia, India, Morocco, Israel and Russia. In addition, at the last APEC meeting in November 2008, it initiated its integration into the P4/P4 (Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership).

Despite his anti-FTA discourse, Ollanta Humala, the new Peruvian president since July 2011, has been carrying out the same policy that was carried out by Alan Garcia.

In the course of 2011, Peru signed FTAs with Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Guatemala and EFTA. In 2012, it is expected that the FTAs with the EU, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala and Costa Rica will come into force.

last update: May 2012

Peru, EFTA to sign FTA in June
26-Mar-2010 Andina
Peru will sign the final text of its free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association, consisting of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, in June.
Peru: Signing away too many rights?
25-Mar-2010 IPS
Peru is enthusiastically espousing free trade, and has signed six tariff-lowering agreements in the space of a year. But it has not matched them with the internal policies needed to reduce their impact on labour rights, the environment, and sensitive areas like agriculture, social organisations and experts say.
Peru, El Salvador to strengthen trade ties as FTA with Central America moves forward
5-Mar-2010 Andina
The negotiation process will begin in May and will be between Peru and Central America, such the one with the European Union
Peru opens free trade with China, concludes trade talks with EU
2-Mar-2010 WSJ
Peru’s president Alan Garcia officially opened free trade with China Monday, and welcomed the close of negotiations on another trade deal with the European Union.
Trade deals expected to create 40,000 jobs over 10 years
26-Feb-2010 Peruvian Times
The Inter-American Development Bank says Peru’s free trade agreements with the United States, China and the European Union will create at least 40,000 jobs in the Andean country over the next 10 years
Peru to negotiate FTA with Central America in May
28-Dec-2009 Andina
Peru will begin negotiations to sign a Free Trade Agreement with Central America in May next year, Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism
China may displace the US as main trading partner of Peru
14-Dec-2009 Andina
On December 7, Peru’s government ratified a free trade agreement with China, noting that this decision "favors Peru’s interests." Peru is one of China’s major trading partners in Latin America.
Peru signs agreement with European free trade pact nations
29-Nov-2009 Wall Street Journal
Peru formally concluded a joint free trade agreement with Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland on Friday, said trade and tourism minister Martin Perez.
Peru-Singapore free trade pact to take effect Aug
22-Jul-2009 Reuters
A free trade agreement between Peru and Singapore will take effect on Aug. 1, the first pact between the resource-rich Latin American nation and Asia, Peruvian Trade & Tourism Minister Martin Perez said on Wednesday.
156 arrested in Peru anti-government protests
9-Jul-2009 Stuff
Peru’s national police chief says 156 people were arrested during anti-government and anti-free trade protests called by the country’s largest labour union.