Free Trade Agreement with the European Union and food sovereignty in Ecuador: A review from the Economic Analysis of Law

Abstract

This research article analyzes the current situation of food sovereignty in Ecuador linked with the Free Trade Agreement between Ecuador, Peru Colombia and the European Union (FTA), after almost four years of its entry into force, considering the impacts of the sanitary and economic crisis generated by the coronavirus pandemic in Ecuador, which has produced significant consequences for small food producers, specially in terms of poverty and inequality. In addition, this article aims to present a review of the implications that the Free Trade Agreement has had on the food sovereignty regime in Ecuador, from the economic analysis of law, analyzing whether this international instrument reduces transaction costs and is efficient in terms of food sovereignty, or whether an inalienability rule should be applied to counteract the externalities it generates in sustainable food production aligned with food sovereignty.

Keywords

• international treaty
• trade
• right to food
• market economy
• agriculture