Canada-Panama FTA on track to be signed

01-19-2009 | EFE

The two countries agreed to exclude dairy products and instant coffee

Panama Star There have been important advances in respect to the negotiation of goods and the access to loan and investment services a spokesman of the Panamanian Commerce and Industry Ministry. According to the Panamanian Chief Negotiator, Leroy Sheffer the definition of the rules regarding the origin of the products such as instant coffee and coffee beans, cooking oil and the rules about processed tomato were negotiated following the parameters imposed by the sectors involved. Sheffer added that the procedures allowing the entrance of Panamanian products to the Canadian market were also negotiated with a higher level of flexibility, which will allow the use of raw material for the processing of end products.

Panama is currently negotiating a series of free trade agreement with Central American countries as a way to find new markets for its products.

The FTA between Panama and the United States remains in limbo, awaiting the approval of the U.S. senate.