LIMA, Peru (AP) – The top U.S. trade official contends Peru’s government is not living up to its commitment to combat illegal logging in a case that could have broader implications as Washington debates ratifying a new North American free trade deal.
In a letter sent Dec. 21 to a congressman, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he considered it “unacceptable” that Peru recently decided to move an independent agency monitoring the logging trade under the Environment Ministry.
He added in the letter to Rep. Richard Neal that the U.S. had “forcefully communicated” its position to Peru and said he would request consultations if the decision was not reversed, a first step toward potential sanctions. Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat, is taking over the chairmanship of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee now that his party is in control of the U.S. House.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, was sent in response to House Democrats who wrote the U.S. trade representative asking him to step in after Peru issued a decree stripping the forest auditor’s office of its independence in violation of the trade agreement.
In a statement, Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism said that the nation is respectful of international treaties and that the forest inspection agency’s independence remains intact despite the change.