Análisis del impacto del acuerdo comercial entre Ecuador y la Unión Europea en la importación de productos farmacéuticos al país

Abstract

European Union brought multiple economic benefits; it ensures the continuity of preferential treatment for Ecuadorian exports in the European market. Moreover, one of its most significant achievements lies in opening better commercial conditions for a wider range of products, ensuring stability in access to the European market and expanding opportunities for Ecuadorian trade (European Commission, 2016). Despite initial expectations, the signing of this agreement resulted in increased competitiveness for Ecuador's export sector, leading to an increase of USD$ 800 million. In terms of trade with Europe, Ecuador recorded a surplus; in 2020, imports from Europe amounted to USD$ 1.442 million, while in 2022, the total imports in 2022 amounted to USD$ 30.334 million, representing an increase of 27.3% compared to 2021. This growth has facilitated the establishment of 450 new companies dedicated to exporting over 190 new products, such as exotic fruits, dietary supplements, liquors, maize, among others. This expansion has generated more than 25,000 new jobs in the country (Trade Agreement between Ecuador and EFTA, 2020). The present research aims to determine the impact of what was agreed upon in Ecuador's Adhesion Protocol to the multi-party trade agreement with the European Union on the marketing factors of pharmaceutical products. For this purpose, necessary information was gathered from various reliable sources for the corresponding analysis of proposed variables within the years under study. Through this process, the respective trends, imports, and price fluctuations, whether increasing or decreasing, were visualized. It also highlighted the impact this chapter.