Quito, January 23 (RHC-PL) -- President Rafael Correa has admitted that there are tensions and mutual distrust in the relations between Ecuador and the United States, but made it clear he will continue denouncing the double standard and attacks against international law.

“Yes, there are some tensions with the United States, there is a mutual distrust, and there are also U.S. right-wing groups that if they could, would bomb us,” stated the President during a meeting with the accredited foreign press.

Correa, who made it clear he does not consider himself an anti-American or hostile to the United States, said that Washington has maintained a clumsy policy towards Latin America, towards what they consider hostile governments in the region, those which do not follow Washington's dictates.

Correa explained that Ecuador decided to forgo the preferences tariffs when the United States threatened to remove them if Quito granted political asylum to former agent Edward Snowden, who revealed the massive espionage carried out by the National Security Agency (NSA).

Correa explained that his country renounced the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), saying 'Washington has to learn we are a sovereign country that will not endure humiliation or blackmails."