Bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ecuador Caucus
On July 19, 2023, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) launched the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ecuador Caucus. Congresswoman Miller and Congresswoman Sewell serve as co-chairs of the Friends of Ecuador Caucus.
“Today, @RepTerriSewell & I launched the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ecuador Caucus to show our strong support of Ecuador. As a co-chair, I am looking forward to promoting U.S.-Ecuador shared values in trade and democracy,” Rep. Carol Miller.
The Friends of Ecuador aims to promote policies that enhance the bilateral relationship between Ecuador and the United States. The official launching ceremony, led by Representatives Terri Sewel and Carol Miller, along with Ambassador Ivonne Baki, took place in the International Relations Committee of the United States House of Representatives.
The establishment of the Friendship Group is a significant milestone in strengthening the ties between Ecuador and the United States.
I just joined @RepCarolMiller and Ambassador @IvonneBaki to launch the “Friends of Ecuador” Caucus!
Ecuador is a great ally and trading partner with a shared focus on democracy and economic development. Looking forward to strengthening the relationship between our nations! pic.twitter.com/fl3j6KuY86
— Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) July 19, 2023
Chairman Michael McCaul of the House Committee on International Relations extended his congratulations and showed support for the Caucus’s upcoming work.
The event was also attended by Representative María Elvira Salazar, Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Representative Daniel Crenshaw, member of the Committee on Commerce and Energy, and former Democratic Representative for the State of Florida, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
Representatives from Ecuadorian and American companies and other guests attended the ceremony. The Ecuadorian embassy in the US tweeted their support:
“The efforts to specify the #IDEA law aim to guarantee the greatest advantage for the entry of Ecuadorian products into the American market! which translates into more jobs with better working conditions that benefit all Ecuadorians…
The Friends of Ecuador Caucus ratifies the space gained by Ecuador through its products, its attractions for investment, and above all, through our shared values.”
— Ivonne A Baki (@ivonnebaki) July 20, 2023
In a celebratory statement, Ecuador’s government published the list of U.S. Representatives who will part of the Caucus:
Terri Sewell (Democrat – Alabama), Co-Chair, Member of the House Ways and Means Committee:
Carol Miller (Republican – West Virginia), member of the House Ways and Means Committee:
Michael McCaul (Republican – Texas), Chairman of the House Committee on International Relations.
Gregory Meeks (Democrat – New York), Minority Leader of the House Foreign Relations Committee.
Vern Buchanan (Republican – Florida), Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
María Elvira Salazar (Republican – Florida), Chair of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
Joaquín Castro (Democrat – Texas), Minority Leader of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
Debbie Dingell (Democrat – Michigan), member of the House Committee on Commerce and Energy.
Adriano Espaillat (Democrat – New York), member of the House Appropriations Committee.
Luis Correa (Democrat – California), member of the House Judiciary Committee.
Lois Frankel (Democrat – Florida), member of the House Appropriations Committee.
In a press release, Congresswoman Carol Miller celebrated the importance of Ecuador-U.S. relations:
“I am honored to be a co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ecuador Caucus,” said Congresswoman Miller. “For many years, Ecuador has been a crucial ally to the United States through our shared values in promoting trade and democracy. The Friends of Ecuador Caucus will work on policies that strengthen and improve the partnership between the two countries through trade and economic development. It is critical we continue to support and recognize the importance of U.S. – Ecuador relations. Thank you to my co-chair Rep. Sewell, along with Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks for their unwavering support of Ecuador.”
“I am thrilled to be launching and co-chairing the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ecuador Caucus with my colleague Rep. Carol Miller,” said Congresswoman Sewell. “Ecuador is a great ally of the United States and a critical trading partner with a shared focus on the importance of democracy and economic development. I look forward to working with my colleagues to further strengthen the relationship between our two nations.”
“Ecuador is a strong ally of the United States. We share many commonalities, but most importantly, we share interests and values,” said Ecuadorian Ambassador Ivonne A-Baki.“I am very glad that the bilateral relation continues to strengthen with the creation of the bipartisan Friends of Ecuador Caucus. I want to express my gratitude to the Caucus co-chairs, Representatives Carol Miller and Terri Sewell for their leadership and support and to the Members of the Caucus who continue to advocate for a stronger bilateral relation. I strongly believe this Caucus will be a successful forum to advance policies and legislation that further bring our two countries together.”
A Strong Ally
Since 2021, bilateral trade has grown significantly, reaching $7.4 million in 2022, with an annual growth rate of 44%. U.S. product imports in Ecuador also increased by 56% each year. The U.S. – Ecuador Partnership Act of 2022, enacted in December 2022, aims to strengthen economic and trade relations, combat negative foreign influence and corruption, and promote democracy-focused governance. Recently, the U.S. and Ecuador established their first bilateral Defense Working Group, further enhancing defense cooperation between both nations.
The State Department’s Fact Sheet on Ecuador-US bilateral relations, publishes highlights of the historical relationship:
In 2021, the United States remained Ecuador’s primary trading partner, with bilateral goods trade exceeding $13.1 billion. Ecuador imports major U.S. products such as petroleum, machinery, electronics, chemicals, transportation equipment, and cereals. Conversely, the U.S. imports crude oil, shrimp, bananas, cocoa, and cut flowers, particularly roses, from Ecuador.
Ecuador and the United States signed the ICSID Convention in August 2021, and a new Protocol on Trade Rules and Transparency in December 2020. The U.S. has significant direct investments in Ecuador, particularly in the manufacturing, wholesale, and retail sectors, with a total foreign direct investment of $619 million in 2019.
Since adopting the U.S. dollar as its official currency in 2000, Ecuador negotiated a $6.5 billion Extended Fund Facility with the International Monetary Fund in 2020. The State Department states that president Lasso’s pro-prosperity reforms, along with collaborative partnerships with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, are strengthening Ecuador’s fiscal position and enhancing its competitiveness.
Our bilateral relation????? brings benefits based upon our shared values for the well-being of the citizens of both countries?? @DefensaEc @CancilleriaEc https://t.co/erfUkSmncz
— EmbajadaECUenUSA (@EmbajadaEcuUSA) July 21, 2023
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Lanzamiento del Grupo de Amistad
Miller, Sewell Launch Bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ecuador Caucus
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