Panamá, 24 de abril de 2003
Aplazan reunión EU-Panamá
Betty Brannan Jaen
LaPrensaDC@aol.com

Tras muchos meses de “conversaciones exploratorias” sobre el TLC, “es conveniente que Panamá sea mas audaz en su gestión”, afirmó Juan B. Sosa, presidente del capítulo estadounidense del Consejo Empresarial Estados Unidos-Panamá (USPA).

Sosa opinó que la República Dominicana ha manejado este tema con mucha habilidad y agresividad, con el resultado de que ese país se ha colocado al frente de la lista de países que posiblemente negocien un TLC con Estados Unidos, pues ya está negociando un acuerdo de este tipo --el llamado “CAFTA”-- con los cinco países de Centroamérica. Sosa señaló que si República Dominicana logra un TLC con Estados Unidos y Panamá no, nuestro país sería el único de habla hispana en Norteamérica, Centroamérica y el Caribe en no tener un tratado de libre comercio con EU.

Tal exclusión de Panamá, advirtió Sosa, es obvio que tendría un impacto grave sobre el esfuerzo para atraer inversiones al istmo.

Pero entre los observadores en Washington, hay poco optimismo de que Panamá logre firmar un tratado de libre comercio con Estados Unidos. Uno de los obstáculos principales es que el Gobierno estadounidense sencillamente no tiene interés en negociar un sin fin de tratados bilaterales; por falta de personal y otros problemas, Washington prefiere negociar en bloque, como está haciendo con Centroamérica. Washington ha sugerido que una posible solución a ese obstáculo sería un arreglo de “docking”, en que nuevos países se acoplan al TLC que ya se haya negociado con el bloque centroamericano.

El representante comercial de EU, Robert Zoellick, dijo recientemente que este concepto de “docking” es “una posibilidad real” para Panamá y República Dominicana, pero algunos observadores estiman que esta opción sería menos favorable que un tratado bilateral.





Panamá, April 17, 2003
(Translation from Spanish)

O- “The sugar in the desert” -
Importante of a FTAA Panama/United Status

Juan B. Sosa
President of the U.S.-Panama Business Council, USA Chapter, and former Ambassador of Panama to Washington

On April eleventh five Central American presidents met with President George W. Bush to advance the agenda of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United States and the region. It was a meeting among friends at which they made the commitment to work together for a positive relationship and promote a proposal that will strengthen Central America in their fight against extreme poverty.

The same day a business forum with the Trade Ministers of Central America took place in which El Salvador’s Minister of Economy Miguel Lacayo characterized a FTA with the United States as the “sugar in the desert”. Referring specifically to his country, which has taken heroic measures after a violent civil war that cost more than one hundred thousand lives and the destruction of its infrastructure, Minister Lacayo mentioned that El Salvador had implemented structural reforms with clear rules of the game, privatized government enterprises, created an environment of freedom and political openness and “dollarized” its economy to the point that today more than ninety percent of the country utilizes it as every day currency. However added Minister Lacayo, these advances have not filtered enough to the base of the pyramid to affect favorably the war against poverty. This situation was compared to a desert that has been prepared with utmost care and excellent ingredients but still “the sugar is missing”, in this case a FTA with the United States that would formalize the access of Central America to the biggest market in the world, stimulating foreign investment, creating new and better jobs, and as result helping to reduce the levels of poverty.

The formalization of a FTA United States-Central America, possibly followed by Dominican Republic who cleverly has positioned itself at the head of the list of countries to negotiate, presents the possibility that by 2004 Panama could be the only Spanish-speaking country in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean without a FTA with the United States. This situation, in addition to the negativeness it would create, suggests the serious possibility that Panama will be at a disadvantage in comparison to other countries of the region in attracting foreign investment, required for an economic reactivation that creates jobs and impacts favorably the lower socio-economic levels.

For Panama to change this position of disadvantage it will require bold actions among which are: (1) Elevate a FTA with United States as a priority for the government and the private sector, (2) Present to the United States the need for a FTA for Panama, (3) At the same time highlight the benefits to United States of such a treaty, (4) Identify formulas that allow for a fast negotiation process, and (5) mobilize the U.S. and Panama business community in support of a FTA.

The issue is being addressed with seriousness and responsibility at the highest levels of the government and private sector. It is a positive step that should be speed-up so Panama can reinforce its leadership within the commercial nations of the Americas, and use a FTA with the United States as a springboard to a new relation and a concrete economic expansion. The desert has to be prepared with the sugar as a integral project.





Panamá, April 13, 2003
(Translation from Spanish)

¿And Panamá?
FTA, Central America and Washington

Juan B. Sosa
The author is President of the United States-Panama Business Council, Panama chapter, and former Ambassador of Panama to Washington.

On Thursday April 10 the Presidents of the five Central American republics that are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States met in Washington with President George W. Bush. The visit of five presidents, fairly unusual and in a way a dramatic achievement, went almost unnoticed by the media. The Washington Post in its Friday April 11 edition did not mention the meeting and CNN, who prides itself to have a strong coverage of the Americas, did not include any news of the visit in its National, World and inclusive Latin America sections of its Internet webpage, preferring to cover stories related to Quito, Mexico City and Acapulco. I mention this to call attention to the enormous challenge that Panama faces in awaking the interest of Washington to a possible bilateral negotiation of a FTA with Panama, and highlights the need for bold actions designed to elevate the importance of this issue in the trade and political agenda of the United States.

As part of the visit of the presidents a forum with the Ministers of External Trade of Central America took place. At the end of the forum, during the period of questions and answers, two questions were addressed. The first, posed by a high level international executive, asked why Panama had not been included in the negotiations, a question that generated anxiety among the attendance. The question was eloquently answered by El Salvador’s Minister of Economy Miguel Lacayo who explained among others, that Panama traditionally had not been part of the Central American group that for years had been working together on issues of regional economic integration.

The second question addressed whether the fact (or perception) that two countries of the Central American Isthmus had not supported the United States in the Iraq war would result in a cooling off of the negotiating process. The question generated a strong reaction on the part of a minister who responded briskly that the questioner had the wrong information. Judging by the handling of the questions and comments after the forum, it is evident that there is apprehension among the business community of the United States involved in the Americas, for the exclusion of Panama from the process and the impact it could have if Panama does not up-date its commercial relations with the United States, resulting in the exclusion of what the Americans refer to as a “plain level field”.

In addition, the existing perception of Panama as a friend of the United States generates contradictions in relation to its exclusion of the negotiating process between the US and Central America. These experiences suggest a clear message to the government and business community of Panama that the FTA train has already departed, it is gaining steam, there is an interest that Panama board this train and if it does, receive the support of the business community of the United States to make of this aspiration a concrete reality.

-Current conversations need to be advanced- The Business Coalition Pro FTA between Panama and the United States

Amb. Juan B. Sosa, President of USPA, USA Chapter
Former Panama Ambassador to the USA

Panama and the United States are in exploratory conversations about a possible bilateral negotiation for a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. The fact that Panama is not part of the Customs Union sponsored by the Central America Secretariat for Economic Integration (SIECA), nor of other multinational economic groups including the Central American Common Market, forces Panama –at least for the moment- to pursue the bilateral negotiation formula. The achievement of this option would allow Panama to reinvigorate and update its relations with its main commercial partner; failing to update it would incur the risk for Panama to fall behind in comparison with other regions that due to its multinational structure offer larger and more attractive markets than what Panama can offer with a market of less than three million consumers. This, coupled with the fact that Panama is slowly losing the competitive edge that has enjoyed for centuries such as flexibility in the repatriation of capitals, the use of the dollar as its currency and others, should serve as an alert for the country to elevate a FTA with the United States to a high priority in its national agenda.

Last week, as an initiative of Ricardo Eskildsen, President of the Panama Chapter of the US-Panama Business Council (USPA), a meeting of presidents of business associations was held with the objective of discussing the possibility of structuring a coalition to promote a Free Trade Agreement between Panama and the United States. Representatives of prestigious organizations such as the Panama Chamber of Commerce and Industries, American Chamber of Commerce, Panama Banking Association, Real Estate Agents Association, Users of the Colon Free Zone, the Interamerican Council for Commerce and Production and USPA exchanged ideas related to the need to support this initiative. At the meeting Vice Minister of International Trade Meliton Arrocha and Vice Minister of the Presidency Jaime Jacome informed the meeting about their recent trip to Washington which will be followed by another at the end of April.

The formalization of the Business Coalition Pro FTA Panama-United States is an immediate need since a number of actions are required such as the organization of forums to educate about the issue and exchange opinions, the mobilization of the private sector in support of the initiative, the application on the part of the government of an inspired process that takes into account the realities of the agricultural and industrial sector, and the projection of future opportunities for Panama are topics that require profound reflection and discussion. The structuring of the coalition is a key complement to advance the agenda of this initiative. Hopefully business leaders will take advantage of this small window and structure shortly the Coalition to support this initiative, extremely important to the future of Panama.

Panama, April 10, 2003

Business Coalition Pro FTA Panama-United States
The achievement of this option would allow Panama to reinvigorate and update its relations with its main commercial partner

Panama and the United States are in exploratory conversations about a possible bilateral negotiation for a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. The fact that Panama is not part of the Customs Union sponsored by the Central America Secretariat for Economic Integration (SIECA), nor of other multinational economic groups including the Central American Common Market, forces Panama –at least for the moment- to pursue the bilateral negotiation formula. The achievement of this option would allow Panama to reinvigorate and update its relations with its main commercial partner; failing to update it would incur the risk for Panama to fall behind in comparison with other regions that due to its multinational structure offer larger and more attractive markets than what Panama can offer with a market of less than three million consumers. This, coupled with the fact that Panama is slowly losing the competitive edge that has enjoyed for centuries such as flexibility in the repatriation of capitals, the use of the dollar as its currency and others, should serve as an alert for the country to elevate a FTA with the United States to a high priority in its national agenda.

Last week, as an initiative of Ricardo Eskildsen, President of the Panama Chapter of the US-Panama Business Council (USPA), a meeting of presidents of business associations was held with the objective of discussing the possibility of structuring a coalition to promote a Free Trade Agreement between Panama and the United States. Representatives of prestigious organizations such as the Panama Chamber of Commerce and Industries, American Chamber of Commerce, Panama Banking Association, Real Estate Agents Association, Users of the Colon Free Zone, the Interamerican Council for Commerce and Production and USPA exchanged ideas related to the need to support this initiative. At the meeting Vice Minister of International Trade Meliton Arrocha and Vice Minister of the Presidency Jaime Jacome informed those present about their recent meeting in Washington, which will be followed by another at the end of April.

The formalization of the Business Coalition Pro FTA Panama-United States is an immediate need since a number of actions are required such as the organization of forums to educate about the issue and exchange opinions, the mobilization of the private sector in support of the initiative, the application on the part of the government of an inspired process that takes into account the realities of the agricultural and industrial sector, and the projection of future opportunities for Panama are topics that require profound reflection and discussion. The structuring of the coalition is a key complement to advance the agenda of this initiative. Hopefully business leaders will take advantage of this small window and structure shortly the Coalition to support this initiative that is extremely important to the future of Panama.

The author is President of the USA Chapter of the US-Panama Business Council and former Ambassador of Panama to the United States.

Articulos de Opinio
Panama-Estados Unidos: Actualizando su relacion

El Autor: Embajador Juan B. Sosa, Presidente del Consejo Empresarial Estados Unidos-Panamá,Capítulo de EEUU. y ex-embajador de Panamá en Washington.

En 1977 Panamá y los Estados Unidos firmaron un histórico tratado que le otorgaba a Panamá la total administración del canal en el año 2000. Desde la firma y ratificación del tratado, a pesar de las excelentes relaciones entre los dos países y cooperación en varios temas bilaterales, la relación ha estado ausente de acciones dramáticas que ayuden a actualizar y darle una renovada energía a la relación.

Hoy en día la posibilidad de un Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) entre los dos países se perfila no sólo como una oportunidad de actualizar la relación con su socio comercial más importante, si no como un paso imperante para Panamá, dentro del contexto de comercio exterior tanto a nivel regional como hemisférico en un mundo globalizado. Un TLC con los Estados Unidos le permitiría a Panamá competir con Centroamérica, región que está en proceso de formalizar un TLC con los Estados Unidos, en la importante tarea de atraer inversiones, componente clave en la generación de empleos para la mano obra panameña. Además, establecería reglas de juego en una serie de sectores que hoy en día no están amparados por otros instrumentos que regulan las actividades comerciales con los Estados Unidos, como lo es la Iniciativa para la Cuenca del Caribe, que además perderá vigencia en la medida que sea reemplazada por tratados de libre comercio con Centroamérica y eventualmente con el Caribe.

La República Dominicana, país con algunas similitudes económicas y políticas con Panamá y con quien recientemente se negoció un TLC, comprendió la amenaza que significaba para su economía y competitividad un rezago en su relación comercial con los Estados Unidos y a través de un estrategia agresiva y en cierta forma audaz, ha logrado colocarse al frente de la lista de países a negociar un tratado de libre comercio con los Estados Unidos.

Este año del centenario de la república, que también es el centenario de las relaciones con los Estados Unidos, brinda una oportunidad especial para que Panamá coloque el tema de un TLC con los Estados Unidos como “Tema de Estado” y le dé la prioridad que amerita dentro de la agenda nacional, de manera que pueda actualizar sus relaciones comerciales con los Estados Unidos a través de una iniciativa bilateral.

La reciente visita a Washington de los Viceministros de Comercio Exterior Melitón Arrocha y de la Presidencia Jaime Jácome, quienes se entrevistaron con altos oficiales del gobierno de los Estados Unidos y líderes del Congreso, aunada a la presentación de credenciales y al diálogo que sostuvo con el presidente de los Estados Unidos el Embajador Roberto Alfaro, han sido efectivos para avanzar la agenda de un posible TLC con los Estados Unidos. Ojalá este esfuerzo genere un fuerte apoyo gubernamental y del sector privado, necesarios para que Panamá pueda cristalizar esta iniciativa, tan importante para el futuro del país.

Panamá, 6 de marzo de 2003
Panamá-Estados Unidos, actualizando su relación

Este año del centenario de la República, que también es el centenario de las relaciones con EU, brinda una oportunidad especial para que Panamá coloque el tema de un TLC con EU .

En 1977 Panamá y Estados Unidos (EU) firmaron un histórico tratado que le otorgaba a Panamá la total administración del Canal en el año 2000. Desde la firma y ratificación del tratado, a pesar de las excelentes relaciones entre los dos países y cooperación en varios temas bilaterales, la relación ha estado ausente de acciones dramáticas que ayuden a actualizar y darle una renovada energía a la relación.

Hoy día la posibilidad de un Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) entre los dos países se perfila no solo como una oportunidad de actualizar la relación con su socio comercial más importante, sino como un paso imperante para Panamá, dentro del contexto de comercio exterior tanto a nivel regional como hemisférico en un mundo globalizado. Un TLC con EU le permitiría a Panamá competir con Centroamérica, región que está en proceso de formalizar un TLC con EU, en la importante tarea de atraer inversiones, componente clave en la generación de empleos para la mano de obra panameña. Además, establecería reglas de juego en una serie de sectores que hoy no están amparados por otros instrumentos que regulan las actividades comerciales con EU, como lo es la Iniciativa para la Cuenca del Caribe, que además perderá vigencia en la medida que sea reemplazada por tratados de libre comercio con Centroamérica y eventualmente con el Caribe.

La República Dominicana, país con algunas similitudes económicas y políticas con Panamá y con quien recientemente se negoció un TLC, comprendió la amenaza que significaba para su economía y competitividad un rezago en su relación comercial con EU; y mediante una estrategia agresiva, y en cierta forma audaz, ha logrado colocarse al frente de la lista de países a negociar un tratado de libre comercio con EU.

Este año del centenario de la República, que también es el centenario de las relaciones con EU, brinda una oportunidad especial para que Panamá coloque el tema de un TLC con EU como “Tema de Estado” y le dé la prioridad que amerita dentro de la agenda nacional, de manera que pueda actualizar sus relaciones comerciales con EU a través de una iniciativa bilateral.

La reciente visita a Washington del viceministro de Comercio Exterior, Melitón Arrocha, y del viceministro de la Presidencia, Jaime Jácome, quienes se entrevistaron con altos oficiales del Gobierno de EU y líderes del Congreso, aunada a la presentación de credenciales y al diálogo que sostuvo con el presidente de EU el embajador Roberto Alfaro, han sido efectivas para avanzar la agenda de un posible TLC con EU. Ojalá este esfuerzo genere un fuerte apoyo gubernamental y del sector privado, necesarios para que Panamá pueda cristalizar esta iniciativa tan importante para el futuro del país.

El autor es presidente del Consejo Empresarial Estados Unidos-Panamá, Capítulo de EU, y ex embajador de Panamá en Washington.