Welcome to the 38th meeting of the Standing Committee on International Trade, as we continue our order of reference regarding an act to implement a free trade agreement between Canada and the Republic of Panama.
We're pleased today to welcome as witnesses, from the Embassy of the Republic of Panama, His Excellency Francisco Carlo Escobar Pedreschi. Your Excellency, it's a pleasure to have you here. Thank you very much for coming.
Also with us today, from the Government of Panama, is His Excellency Francisco Alvarez de Soto, the chief trade negotiator and deputy minister of international trade negotiations with the ministry of trade and industry.
Also here today is Mr. Rudy Cedeño, who is an adviser to the deputy minister.
This will be very useful and informal. Our normal practice is to begin with an opening statement from our witnesses of up to 10 minutes to give a brief background of your involvement and thoughts on the issue. Then we will proceed with the committee members asking questions.
With that very brief introduction, again, we are delighted to have you here. Thank you for coming.
I take it His Excellency is going to begin. I'll leave it to you, Mr. Ambassador.