Thursday 18 September
2008, San José, Costa
Rica
Panama's President
Continues Push For Free
Trade Pact Passage
Russian Deputy PM Visits
Nicaragua As Part Of
Latin American Tour
Three Killed In Rio
Police's Operation
Against Drug Dealers
Venezuelan FM, Russian
Vice PM Meet On
Bilateral Cooperation
Insulza Defends OAS
Role, UNASUR Appoints
Envoy For Bolivian
Crisis
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Panama's President
Continues Push For Free
Trade Pact Passage
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)-
A day ahead of a
scheduled meeting with
U.S. President George W.
Bush, Panamanian
President Martin
Torrijos continued
pushing Tuesday for
approval of a free trade
deal between the
countries.
Panama's economy has
grown at a 9.5% clip in
the first half of 2008
and has seen 23
consecutive quarters of
economic growth, he said
at a U.S. Chamber of
Commerce luncheon.
"We feel confident
American investors will
become partners in the
bright future that lies
ahead for Panama,"
Torrijos said.
The U.S.-Panama Free
Trade Agreement, signed
more than a year ago, is
in line behind a more
controversial
U.S.-Colombia Free Trade
Agreement, which has
been stalled in
Congress. House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi
indefinitely postponed a
vote on the Colombia
deal because of concerns
over labor conditions in
the country. Congress
typically considers
trade agreements in the
order they are signed.
Torrijos declined to say
whether he had or was
scheduled to meet with
Pelosi.
Sarah Thorn, Wal-Mart
Stores Inc.'s (WMT)
director of
international trade and
a member of the Latin
America Trade Coalition,
vowed to continue
fighting for passage of
the agreement and
pledged to continue that
fight for years, if
necessary. The Latin
America Trade Coalition
has been working to
secure Congressional
approval of the
U.S.-Panama and
U.S.-Colombia deals.
Torrijos in his speech
also said renovation
work on the Panama Canal
"is advancing on
schedule and on budget." |
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