Mr. Speaker, the economic arguments for free trade agreements are very compelling on a number of points.
There are some side issues, and they are part of this debate. The United States signed an agreement with Panama three years ago, and the Panamanian Congress ratified it 13 days later. But here we are three years later and the U.S. Congress has still not ratified the Panamanian agreement.
Is the member aware of the reasons that the Americans have not proceeded with ratifying that agreement?