Panama - United States Trade Promotion Agreement

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The Panama - United States Trade Promotion Agreement, in Panama called Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) entre Panama y Estados Unidos, is a bilateral free trade agreement, whose stated objectives include eliminating obstacles to trade, consolidating access to goods and services and favoring private investment in and between both nations. Apart from commercial issues, it incorporates economic, insitutional, intellectual-property, labor and environmental policies, among others.

The negotiations were officially completed on 19 December, 2006, though elements were still to be renegotiated. The agreement was signed on 28 June, 2007, and Panama's National Assembly ratified it on the following 11 July, before the twelve hundred page document had been translated into Spanish.^[1]

[edit] Criticisms

There are various criticisms and controversies that have surrounded the pact. Most of the criticisms come from those movements typically critical of free trade and neoliberalism, including environmental, workers', and rural movements who oppose the intrusion upon each groups' gains.

Several controversies have prevented a speedy conclusion as well. In January of 2006, Panama's Minister of Agriculture resigned in anger after a note that was slipped from Panama's trade representatives to the US representatives purportedly promised to reduce Panama's livestock import standards.^{[citation needed]}

Many members of the US Congress have refused to vote for the treaty while Panama's National Assembly is led by Pedro Miguel González Pinzón, a man they allege to be a terrorist.^[2]

[edit] See also

• Pedro Miguel González Pinzón

[edit] References

1. ^ Article from Panama News.
2. ^ Chicago Tribune story of Dec. 1, 2007 quoting Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), among others, stating that he has pledged the Panama trade pact will not move forward as long as González is in office.

[edit] External links

• U.S. International Trade Commission Report on U.S.-Panama TPA.
• U.S. Trade Representative's page on U.S.-Panama TPA.
• U.S. State Department Statement on Election of Pedro Miguel González Pinzón.

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