International Trade committee  I take note that you will be in Panama in the next two weeks, particularly looking at the City of Knowledge. We are very pleased with that. We've talked about agricultural goods at length because that's the main export that Panama has. Please bear in mind that 75% of our GDP is

International Trade committee  Sorry, I mentioned Barbados because of the double taxation agreement. Regarding CARICOM, if you go onto the website of the minister of trade, you will see in our strategy for this coming year that CARICOM is definitely a market we are pursuing. I'll be travelling to Trinidad nex

International Trade committee  I said “under budget”.

International Trade committee  Indeed, the figures we are looking at indicate that once the enlargement of the canal is complete, 6% to 8% of world trade will be coming through the canal. Let me also make a clarification on how trade will be evolving because of the Panama Canal. You will see an increase in wo

International Trade committee  Thank you very much. I'll try to be extremely brief.

International Trade committee  Merci. In terms of the potential contracts for the canal, indeed, as you know, this is an extremely transparent international process that is taking place. I want to report that contrary to what the skeptics are saying, the project is running on time and under budget. That's so

International Trade committee  Yes, I'm trying. It's just that there are a lot of questions, and I would like to address them, if I may. Panama has been very consistent with Canada in actually engaging fully in cooperation. The strength or the robustness of any sort of cooperation can be perfectly dealt with

International Trade committee  Thank you very much for the opportunity to clarify these issues and these biased opinions of international organizations once again. Let me start with the labour aspects of your questions. I will start with the reference to these export processing zones. Respectfully, I do not a

International Trade committee  With pleasure. No problem. I could provide the law that has been passed by the Council of Ministers. It would go to the National Assembly. As a matter of fact, let me point out that it has actually been consulted on with everyone. In particular, the companies have actually said

International Trade committee  Thank you very much again. Indeed, we firmly believe that a policy of trade, of course, is one that helps strengthen all other aspects of government and society. That's precisely why our administration is so committed to having Panama look at the world and at other trade partner

International Trade committee  Thank you.

International Trade committee  Thank you for the question, Madam. Let me address that directly. Panama is already becoming, essentially, we believe, a very serious, committed financial centre for the region. We want to consider ourselves a financial centre for the Americas. This is why we are engaging not on

International Trade committee  Thank you very much. Indeed, this agreement with Canada has actually become a model, particularly in the subsequent negotiations that we are advancing when it comes to labour standards and when it comes to the environment, for example, and of course the issue of corporate social

International Trade committee  Yes, thank you very much. Allow me to make a reference to this issue of the pejorative classification of Panama as a tax haven. Panama has explained to the OECD and other trade partners and to economic partners around the world that the reality of our tax system--and there is am

International Trade committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman and ladies and gentlemen, for this opportunity. As Canada's main trade and economic partner in the Central American region, Panama considers this agreement as an important part of our trade integration strategy to strengthen commercial ties and deepen tr