Argentina accuses U.S. of intending to scrap preferential treatment
Argentine President Nestor Kirchner on Tuesday strongly criticized Washington for intending to call off the preferential trade treatment to some countries, including Argentina, saying the intention is in retaliation against those countries.

Kirchner said the U.S. intention aimed to punish those which did not support Washington on issues concerning the American Free Trade Area and the world trade negotiations.

However, Argentina is an independent nation, which pursues an independent foreign policy, and will not bow to the U.S. pressure, the president said.

It is reported that the U.S. administration is considering abolishing the preferential treatment to 13 countries, including three Latin American nations -- Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela.

The U.S. adopted the preferential treatment program in 1967 that waived import duties on thousands of products, and up to now, 3,400 products from 133 countries are enjoying the treatment.

The Argentine export to the U.S. totaled 4.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2005. Export which will be affected by the change is estimated at 616 million dollars, accounting for 15 percent of the total Argentine export to Washington.

Analysts here said the U.S. move will have little impact on the total Argentine export.

But it is a new protectionist measure pursued by the U.S. after its failure in the Doha Round of talks on trade liberalization and will damage the interests of some developing countries, they said.