Articles by Cecilia Remón

Will Drug Crop Eradication Spark Conflict in Peru?

Peru could lose its certification in the fight against drugs next year—and its eligibility for tariff exemptions under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA)—if it fails to meet a U.S. demand that between 3,500 and 7,000 hectares of coca crops be eradicated by the end of this year. While inclusion in ATPDEA also hinges on participation in negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and support for the U.S. fight against terrorism, Peru must specifically comply with a requirement for “successful eradication” of drug crops, especially coca, according to Nils Ericsson, head of the Peruvian government’s National Commission for Development and a Drug-Free Life (DEVIDA). “That is the factor that most concerns the United States,” he said. Read more»