Ecuador to US: keep your trade, and here's $23 million for Human Rights education

From Reuters comes news that the government of Ecuador has unilaterally waived trade rights with the United States, rejecting accusations that US threats to end a favorable trade deal were the reason they hadn't formally offered Ed Snowden political asylum.

(Reuters) - Ecuador said on Thursday it was waiving preferential rights under a U.S. trade agreement to demonstrate its principled approach to the asylum request of former American spy agency contractor Edward Snowden.

Officials in Quito added that the U.S. fugitive's case had still not been processed because he had not reached any of its diplomatic premises.

In a deliberately cheeky touch from the leftist government of President Rafael Correa, Ecuador also offered a multimillion donation for human rights training in the United States.

Preferential trade deal with the United States: $23 million.

Rubbing the United States government's nose in its own feces: priceless.

Care to tell Ecuador how you feel?  You can email:

E-mail:     [e-mail]

Website     www.consuladodelecuadorsf.com

Head of Mission     Mirian Rosado García, Consul General

Thanks to the amazing BerkeleyDoc!