International Trade committee  Indeed.

International Trade committee  El corredor biológico mesoamericano: yes, I know it.

International Trade committee  Yes. It is part of a corridor that extends from Panama to the Central American region.

International Trade committee  To mine in the corridor? Not that I know of.

International Trade committee  Yes. We are expecting the signature.

International Trade committee  Yes, of course.

International Trade committee  As I said, they have a plan. I don't know if they have finished the plan and have put out all the bids for companies abroad, but I am sure that the expansion will continue the way it is right now. I am pretty sure that there is more space for companies abroad to invest in the Panama Canal.

International Trade committee  Yes, indeed I do. Thank you for the question. As I said earlier, Canada is gaining a space that is very important in Panama, not only through the investments of the biggest companies but also from the presence of the little entrepreneurs who are going to Panama. Many people retiring to Panama from Canada are looking for other options for living.

International Trade committee  I have no comment.

International Trade committee  The canal expansion is one of the largest investments in the region right now.

International Trade committee  For other investment that will occur in terms of procurement, I don't have the exact numbers here.

International Trade committee  They are mostly managed by the Panama Canal Authority, and they have a plan to tender those bids. What I could say is that since 2010...for the Canadian approval of the FTA that will allow the entry into force of this agreement, it's important to note that the TPA with the U.S.A. will probably be effective at the end of October, which means that the American exporters will be able to use the preferences established.

International Trade committee  What I have in my instructions, and it reflects part of the answer that you are looking for, says that American exporters, with the recent coming into force of the free trade agreement with the U.S., will be able to use the preference established in the agreement, while Canadian exporters will pay the MFN duties.

International Trade committee  Let me begin by saying that the Panama Canal Authority is the institution in charge of procurement for the expansion of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal Authority is an independent entity of the government. They have their own procurement system. I mention that because sometimes people from abroad tend to think that the Panama Canal Authority is the same as the Government of Panama.

International Trade committee  They will.