Bolivia confirms rejection to sign FTA with U.S.

Bolivia Friday reiterated its definite rejection to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States due to great trade imbalance between the two countries. "We can't sign, under any arguments, a Free Trade Agreement with the United States because it means a plunder of our natural and productive resources, besides the great commercial differences we have," said the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs David Choquehuanca. "We have to defend the interests of our country and businessmen, an FTA should benefit the Bolivians and not drain us," he said. Bolivia and the United States have already inked a framework agreement on trade, Choquehuanca said, calling for the United States to abide by the deal with mutual respect. Bolivia's export to the United States reached 661 million U.S. dollars in the first three quarters of 2011, according to the country's official statistics agency.