Colombia Agriculture Minister Juan Camilo Restrepo has admitted that his country is not ready to cope with the aftermath of signing a free trade agreement with the United States.
We are not ready, the gap is too wide, reminds Restrepo in simultaneous interview for Caracol Radio, Caracol Television and El Espectador daily.
In his view, sectors like fruits, greens and veggies and other produces in the agrobusiness sector may enjoy direct access into US markets, but it will not work the same with the rest. An eventual enforcement of a free trade agreement would seriously hurt rice and the milk industry.
Restrepo warned that an agreement would hurt the 350,000 families raising sheep, pigs or goats in competing with the US, hoping such an agreement would not shatter those sectors.
The Minister also lashed out at the way in which the government of ex President Alvaro Uribe (2000-2010) negotiated the treaty, stressing the terms, especially on agriculture, were plagued with naivety.
Colombia and the US signed one such pacts in 2006 but enforcement depends on the Parliament's recognition. Still, and along many other agreements, it is widely rejected through its harmful effects on national interests.