Ecuador has said that they're turning down the trade benefits the United States gives them as part of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication trade pact with the United States, claiming it had become an instrument of "blackmail" against them while considering whistleblower Edward Snowden's asylum request.
Despite, voicing support for the former National Security Agency contractor, authorities in Ecuador have said that they won't bow to U.S. pressure even though they are yet to grant Edward Snowden's request for asylum.
The pact, which covers key Ecuadorean exports such as fresh-cut roses, fruits, vegetables and tuna, is set to expire on July 31 unless the US Congress renews it.
In a news conference on Thursday, President Rafael Correa said, "In the face of threats, insolence and arrogance of certain U.S. sectors, which have pressured to remove the preferential tariffs because of the Snowden case, Ecuador tells the world we unilaterally and irrevocably renounce the preferential tariffs."
"You request asylum when you are on a country's territory. Snowden is not on Ecuadorean territory, so technically we cannot even process the asylum request," he said.
"Would he be allowed to arrive on Ecuadorean territory? This is something that, in principle, we haven't considered," he added.
"It is outrageous to try to delegitimize a state for receiving a petition of asylum.We would probably examine it, but for now he is in Russia."
"Ecuador does not accept pressure or threats from anyone, and does not trade on principles or make them contingent on commercial interests, even if those interests are important", Ecuador's Communications Minister Fernando Alvarado announced earlier, adding that the country "unilaterally and irrevocably renounces preferential customs tariff rights".
Snowden, who is seeking aslyum after he leaked classified information on a widespread secret surveillance programme, faces espionage charges in the United States, and has been slammed as a traitor by critics while being hailed as a hero by his supporters.
The Obama administration has revoked Snowden's passport, after he leaked documents pointing to a widespread US surveillance programme in early June.
Currently, he is believed to be hiding at the Moscow airport, where he arrived from Hong Kong on Sunday.
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