The National Assembly of Panama approved in third debate the Free Trade Agreement between both countries, signed in May 2018.
Some of the results that will be achieved with the entry into force of this agreement include immediate access to the Israeli market for agricultural products such as: frozen beef and hamburger, palm oil, cassava, rum and vinegar.
In the second round of negotiations held in Panama institutional issues such as dispute resolution, intellectual property, trade facilitation and technical standards were discussed.
From a statement issued by the Israeli Embassy in Panama:
The negotiating teams of the Governments of Israel and the Republic of Panama, are meeting in Panama City from March 2 until today for a second round of negotiations on an FTA.
The Costa Rican Congress approved on its first reading a Free Trade Agreement which makes 71% of the market for goods and services in Colombia duty free.
On Monday, the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica approved on its first reading the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia. The entry into force of this trade agreement is needed in order to allow the Central American nation to join the Pacific Alliance.
Companies are preparing for the process of tariff reduction for imported goods and services from the United States under the FTA.
Starting 2015 various products will be able to come into Nicaragua from the U.S. tax free. Employers are now preparing for the tariff reduction process of the Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Central America and Dominican Republic (DR -CAFTA).
The fourth round has been completed with agreements made on the chapters on Rules of Origin, Investment and Financial Services.
The delegations from both countries agreed to hold a fifth round of negotiations from 18th to 21st March in Panama City.
From a press release issued by the Ministry of Economy of Mexico:
The Governments of the United Mexican States and the Republic of Panama have concluded a fourth round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This round of negotiations was held in Mexico City from 4th to 7th February 2014 and was led by Deputy Minister of International Trade Negotiations of Panama, Diana Salazar and Assistant Secretary for Foreign Trade of Mexico, Francisco de Rosenzweig.
The temporary entry of business people, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures are among the topics to be discussed at this meeting.
From February 4th to 8th in Mexico City, a fourth round of negotiations will be held for the signing of an FTA between Panama and Mexico. Some of the topics to be covered in this new round are: temporary entry of business people, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, intellectual property, and others.
Market access, rules of origin and procedures, public procurement and services and investment will be discussed in a mini round of negotiations in Panama City.
From 13th to 17th of January a mini round of negotiations for the signing of the FTA with Mexico will be held in Panama.
From a press release issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Panama:
The elimination of tariffs on agricultural products and flexible rules of origin for products such as tuna, textiles and plastics are part of the changes incorporated in the Agreement.
The Minister of Economy, Sergio de la Torre said that in the next few years Guatemala's exports to Europe could be doubled, as has happened with the other trade agreements that the Central American nation has signed.
Once the trade agreement is signed between the two countries tariffs that the South American nation excises on textiles and leather from the CFZ will be removed.
The information was confirmed by President Ricardo Martinelli, after a meeting with his Colombian counterpart. The president said that the trade agreement will be signed next week.
According to Martinelli, the tariff is applied only to countries that do not have an FTA with Colombia.
In the next six years, the EU will invest in regional customs strengthening which it considers essential for harnessing the benefits of the AA.
Laprensa.com.ni reports: "With the support of the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat the EU will start a Support Programme for Central American Economic Integration and Implementation of the AA".
The current $550 million from the annual sales of Guatemalan products and services to Mexico could double with the entry into operation of the unified FTA between that country and the Central Americans.
Guatemalans are hoping that exports to the Aztec nation will double with the entry into force of the agreement which unifies the Mexican FTA's that were held separately with Costa Rica, Nicaragua and the CA-3.
The current total amount of Mexican investment in Panama exceeds $2 billion, an amount that is expected to increase with the signing of the FTA for which negotiations have started.
From a press release by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Panama:
From July 30 to August 2 , the First Round of Negotiations in the subscription of a Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Panama and the United Mexican States will be held at the Radisson Summit Hotel & Golf Panama Panama City.
The entry into force of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union encourages projects to increase honey production in Nicaragua.
Currently production is less than 500 tonnes per year, equivalent to 0.09% of what was imported globally last year (518,818 tonnes). According to Luz Marina Arana, coordinator of marketing research of the Center for Export and Investment (CEI), although Nicaraguan honey has entered duty free since 2004, with the entry into force of the trade agreement, "the new rules will stabilize trade and expand the possibility of new markets. "
An agreement between parliamentarians has pushed forward the ratification process, which was stuck due to the resistance of the sugar industry.
"The treaty affected the sugar business, which is the reasons why the agreement could not be approved," said one of the congressmen who requested anonymity.
An article in Prensalibre.com reports that "With 113 votes in favor, the Free Trade Agreement with Peru was approved, having been postponed since the last special session, due to the fact that there was an attempt to approve it as a matter of national emergency with less votes than required by law. "
The trade agreement will bring one of the most dynamic economies in the world, which has a per capita GDP close to $51,000, closer to the Costa Rican economy.
From a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica (COMEX):
Monday, July 1, will see the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Costa Rica and Singapore, which brings the Costa Rican economy closer to one of the largest in the world.