MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US hopes for “truly exceptional” relations with new Uruguayan government

Everett Eissenstat said the TIFA experience with Uruguay has been a complete success

United States has a “truly exceptional” relation with Uruguay and expects whoever wins the coming election, to keep that “very solid” link said Everett Eissenstat, US Assistant Trade Representative for the Americas during a meeting with a delegation of visiting Uruguayan journalists.

“Obviously we trust and hope to have a very solid relation with the next government. However it will be the next government that will set the emphasis, but we trust we can keep advancing. We also expect to keep working in the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, TIFA, whatever party takes office”, said Eissenstat,

The US diplomat said that the relation between Uruguay and the United States goes beyond the governments because both countries cherish common interests such as democracy and economic stability. He added that the administration of President Barack Obama wishes to “continue” advancing in what was been achieved so far.

“Actually we had a very important TIFA meeting last June which shows that beyond any change of government in the US, we continue to work in the same direction”.

Eissenstat described the TIFA with Uruguay as a “total success” and the most “sophisticated” and “most advanced” at least in Latinamerica, “Its’ a model for a very exceptional relation, it’s a model, an experience we would like to expand to other countries”.

Under TIFA environment, sanitary and phytosanitary protocols were sealed and “we are working in other areas”. In the mid term the idea is to review areas adequately functioning and continue with technical negotiations.

The US diplomat said Uruguay has “very interesting areas” to work with that are only limited to the creativity of both countries but “we would like to advance on issues such as education, innovation and turn Uruguay into a regional software hub”.

Asked if Uruguay had not lost a golden chance when the Bush administration offered a free trade agreement but the Uruguayan government opted for the TIFA, Eissenstat said there are “many valid association options” and the free trade agreements “involve many years’ negotiations and must be ratified by Congress”.

Anyhow TIFA is also a good foundation for a future free trade agreement, which can then take advantage of existing mechanisms between both countries, concluded the US Assistant Trade Representative.