The ongoing diplomatic furore over fugitive former intelligence agent Edward Snowden's evasion of the US authorities could have a significant impact on the international fresh produce trade if, as some have predicted,he were to end up seeking asylum in Ecuador.
According to a number of news reports, analysts in the Latin American country have suggested that allowing Snowden to take refuge there could put at risk its tariff-free access to the US for fruit, flowers and seafood.
With the US-Andean Trade Preference Act coming up for renewal, some believe harbouring Snowden would jeopardise Ecuador's efforts to extend the act and therefore endanger major fruit exports, which include bananas, avocados, melons, pineapple, passion fruit, strawberries, plantains and mangoes – many of which end up in the US.
Ramiro Crespo, director of the Quito-based financial analysis firm Analytica Securities told reportes: 'The United States is an important market for us, and treating a big client this way isn't appropriate from a commercial point of view.'
Ecuador is known widely as a major exporter of bananas and avocados to the US, but its export basket also includes products such as melons, pineapples, passion fruit, strawberries, plantains and mangoes.
As well as the US, Ecuador supplies fruit to other key international markets including the EU, Russia, Japan, China and Argentina.
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