International Commerce Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Panama) Association Agreement between Europe and Central America Central America Integration Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration regional integration Commerce Ricardo Quijano Roberto Henríquez Tariffs The European Free Trade Association tariff benefits trade agreement Admission to the SIEC Anabel González Campabadal

Panama continues to be excluded from the EU - Central America Agreement

The negotiation of the Agreement of Association continues, and the incorporation of Panama will depend on whether its signs the protocol economic integration with Central America.

Monday, February 2, 2009

The signing of the protocol is a indispensable requirement in order for the European Union to accept the incorporation of Panama in the negotiations.

In an article published on prensa.com, Rafael E. Berrocal reports that "for more than two years Panama has avoided the commitment say that it needs to study it more closely in order to avoid complications due to its incompatibility with the economy of Central America. The Minister of Trade and Industry has indicated that for them to join the regional integration they need adequate terms that will allow them to take up the commitments of the agreement with out any disturbances.

Source: Prensa.com

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Key entities

Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Panama)

Countries

Panama European Union Central America

Insight

Association Agreement between Europe and Central America regional integration International Commerce Central America Integration

Panama Enters EU Negotiation

March 2010

The European Union formally accepted the inclusion of Panama in the negotiations for an Association Agreement with Central America.

This way, EU recognizes Panama as part of the Central American block, despite the fact that it is not a member of the Central American Economic Integration Secretary (SIECA).

Panama Incorporated to EU-CA Negotiation

February 2010

The Central American countries, with the exception of Nicaragua, accepted the incorporation of Panama in the negotiation for an Association Agreement with the European Union.

At a meeting in Panama, the chancellors of SICA countries (Central American Integration System) signed a document in which they acknowledge that the incorporation of Panama to the agreement will help increase the goods and services offered by the region.

European Union Committed to Association Agreement

January 2010

The Association Agreement between EU and Central America, including Honduras, would be signed on May 18th, 2010.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Foreign Commissar, expressed the Union's intent of concluding the negotiations and signing the agreement on the planned date.

Panama to Enter Agreement with EU

May 2009

The European Union would allow Panama to enter into the Agreement by lifting the prerequisite that it should be part of SIECA.

Panama has been an observer thus far in the negotiation for an Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union because the country had not fulfilled the European Union’s prerequisite of signing the protocol for the "economic integration with Central America, i.e.