Producers demand strength from Cortiz before TPC with USA

members National Association of Poultry Breeders of Panama (Anavip) and National Association of Pig Breeders of Panama (Anapor) close ranks yearprompt the Panamanian authorities to reconsider Trade agreement with the United States.

After 16 years of negotiations, time has shown that none of the expectations and promises have come true. People have witnessed that the Panamanian producer has never had market access to its products in the North American market, the producers pointed out.

The volume of imports ceded to the United States also did not lower the price of food in the United States. Basic family basketthey add in the press release published this Tuesday, March 21.

According to those affected, the TPC with the United States meant for Panama an extremely unfavorable trade balance, with domestic production being squeezed out by imports and unfair trade resulting from multi-million dollar subsidies given to North American producers and allocation prices below the cost of production of various items that compete with the Panamanians.

After 12 years since the treaty came into force, producers of sensitive items such as chicken and pork are pushing for government intervention to allow the review to treat interests and national security. TPC with the United States of America.

They warn that it is abolition of customs protection and full commercial opening This can have devastating consequences for the sustainability of strategic food production activities, but above all for the preservation of sources of employment and social peace in rural Panama.

Considering the fragility and helplessness that threatens the survival of Panamanian agriculture, it is urgent that the state adopts a national stance in defense of producers, imitating the agricultural policy of American President Joe Biden, aimed at opening the market to producers in that country, representatives of both unions pointed out.

“Given the immediate damage that national food production will suffer, if formulas are not agreed upon with our commercial partner that reduce the potential damage caused by the opening of a commercial, we call on organizations of producers, consumers, business associations, trade unions, political parties, aspirants for popularly elected positions and other active forces in the country to join in this way the call we are sending to the People’s Government, to continue and not give up the fight for the benefit of all”, they point out.

Manufacturers question the lack of mood of commercial representatives and United States diplomats consider and discuss before 2025 the proposal of the government and Panamanian producers to revise the TPC.

they ask President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo, send Minister of Trade and Industry, Federico Alfaro Boyd, request a meeting of the Free Trade Commission to present trade partners and discuss proposals by the Republic of Panama, such as those set forth in Article 19.1 of the TPC with the US.