Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt

The defenders of the new argentine orientation in foreign relations, taking shape since the appointment of Mauricio Macri as president, understand the arrival of Obama to our country as a triumph, because, as we can read in certain newspapers, „Argentina cannot stay trapped in one room.“ It is this idea of enclosure which carries along policies of free trade, including the signing of Free Trade Agreements with the big economic powers of the world such as the European Union, some Asian countries and the United States of America. As in the 90s, the view is spread, that liberalizing the economy and opening up markets attracts foreign investors and consequently is the ultimate solution for countries like Argentina which suffer from a commercial deficit and economic stagnation.

The logic that follows this reasoning tries tu convince us that the more liberalized an economy, the more investment it attracts. Yet, this supposed causal relation has been proved wrong by numerous academic studies, including one by the UNCTAD UNCTAD
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development This was established in 1964, after pressure from the developing countries, to offset the GATT effects.

, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Confronted by arguments that show that signing a Free Trade Agreement not necessarily implies more investment, the advocates of free trade stay silent.

Another reason for Obama to visit Argentina is the defense of US-american corporations operating in Argentina and which in many cases have inflicted enourmous harm upon our population. Firms like Monsanto, with the production of pesticides and patented seeds, or Chevron, a corporation which lost a trial in Ecuador where it left an ecological desaster, will see their position strenghtend by the arrival of Obama to Argentina.

The same accounts for the conflict with the hedge fonds and its debate in the argentine parliament during these days which is linked to a time frame imposed by a court in New York, aiming at the reintegration of Argentina in new rounds of foreign indebtedness. The Obama gouvernment has already assured Argentina that it will help the country to enter the international credit market, which without a doubt means more debt.

As ATTAC Argentina/CADTM AYNA we reject the free trade agenda Obama is bringing to our country and oppose us to even the smallest steps taken towards a Free Trade Agreement with the USA. Yesterday we said NO to ALCA, today we keep on denouncing agreements which imply desastrous consequences for our people.

NO TO THE SIGNING OF FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS!
PARTICIPATIVE AUDITING OF THE PUBLIC DEBT AND PRIOR SUSPENSION OF PAYMENT!
POPULAR CONSULTATION!
NO TO THE SECRET AGREEMENT YPF-CHEVRON!
STOP SECRETIVNESS, THE PEOPLE NEEDS TO BE INFORMED!