Referendum question to allow impeachment of high court judges denounced; Loma Larga mine delayed; Ecuador expects U.S. tariff to be eliminated

The referendum question proposed by President Daniel Noboa to allow impeachment of Constitutional Court judges is being criticized the United Nations and Human Rights Watch. The question was among seven Noboa presented the day after the court suspended implementation of parts of three laws the president says are necessary to combat organized crime.

UN special rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite claimed the referendum question and other attacks on the court appeared to be part of “campaign of intimidation” by Noboa and the National Assembly. “This is very worrying news and is a challenge to the concept of separation of powers,” she said, adding that she has sent a letter of protest to Noboa and the National Assembly.

Ecuador’s Constitutional Court

In addition to the referendum question, International NGO Human Rights Watch is also criticizing attacks on the Constitutional Court for its rejection of some articles in the new laws.

“We reject the divisive comments aimed at the court after it suspended provisions that threatened human rights,” said HRW Latin America Director Juanita Goebertus in her X account. “The judges were simply doing their job of upholding the constitution.”

Like Satterthwaite, Goebertus said the separation of powers must be respected. In particular, she denounced the news conference appearance of National Assembly President Niels Olsen in which he was flanked by armed soldiers.

Former Constitutional Court judge Enrique Herrería also criticized what he called the government’s “political hate campaign” against the court. “The consultation question and the comments by government officials threaten the fundamental principles of democracy and judicial independence in Ecuador,” he said.

He suggested that the court may disallow the impeachment question since it would require a constituent assembly to make the change. “The issue is not suitable as a public consultation question.”

Loma Larga mine delayed
Energy and Mines Minister Inés Manzano on Wednesday ordered the suspension of all activity by Dundee Precious Metals at the proposed Loma Larga mine south of Cuenca. She said communication and environmental management plans must be developed and approved before preparatory work by the Canadian mining company can resume.

The mine has been the subject of controversy in recent weeks due to its location in the environmentally sensitive Quimsacocha páramo and for potential contamination of water sources. Local residents have been joined by indigenous and environmental organizations in threatening protests and possible work stoppages if mining activity continues.

Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora applauded the suspension of work at the mine. “The government has heard the massive outcry of Cuenca, the country’s third city, against this project and has, for once acted responsibly,” he said on his X account. “We will remain ultra vigilant, however, until there is a total ceasefire of attacks on our heritage.”

Ecuador expects U.S. tariff to be eliminated
Although a 15% tariff on Ecuadorian exports to the U.S. became effective Thursday, Production Minister Luis Alberto Jaramillo believes it will be short-lived. “I expect to announce within a matter of days that the tariff has been reduced, either partially or totally,” he said Tuesday.

“We are advancing in talks with U.S. authorities and there are only a few points left to finish the agreement,” Jaramillo said in an interview with Teleamazonas. “There will be good news soon.”

He added that the additional 5% added to the 10% tariff announced in June by U.S. President Donald Trump was not aimed specifically at Ecuador but to a group of 42 nations with large trade imbalances with the U.S. “Ecuador’s total trade with the U.S. is small in relative terms, and because the two nations are on friendly terms this issue will be resolved favorably.”