Peru-U.S. Sign New Drug Cooperation Agreement

In a potentially important breakthrough in anti-drug cooperation on May 15, 1991, the U.S. and Peru announced the signing of an agreement on anti-drug cooperation that emphasizes, inter alia, economic development aid to coca-growing farmers. The agreement has importance firstly because it breaks the political impasse between two of the world's largest cocaine producers (Peru which produces 60 percent of the world's supply of raw coca leaf) and consumers (the U.S. which consumes 80 percent of cocaine and other coca derivatives).