Panama to Talk Trade
with CARICOM
Panama will negotiate
from August 8 a free
trade agreement with the
Caribbean Community in
Trinidad Tobago.
A release from the
Ministry for Commerce
and Industry says the
negotiations will follow
consultation with local
producers and exporters.
CARICOM annual
purchasing power exceeds
$8 billion, says the
Trade Ministry, so it is
an important market for
Panamanian meat,
evaporated milk, cheese,
cardboard and tomato
derivative.
Panama's head negotiator
Leroy Sheffer hopes the
accord will reap large
benefits for Panama
since exports to the
CARICOM jumped 117
percent, from $8.5
million in 2003 to $18.6
million in 2006.
The CARICOM is made up
of Antigua and Barbuda,
Bahamas, Barbados,
Belize, Dominica,
Granada, Guyana, Haiti,
Jamaica, Montserrat, St.
Kitts and Nevis, St.
Lucia, St. Vincent and
the Grenadines, Suriname
and Trinidad Tobago.
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