Presidential candidates on the Free Trade Area of the Americas

At a presidential candidates’ night sponsored by the US-Panama Business Council, in press releases and other pronouncements by the candidates, and in statements by business leaders and the nation’s editorial writers, the issue of a possible Free Trade Area of the Americas has become part of the 2004 presidential campaign debate. President Moscoso says she’s for a hemispheric free trade organization, and has made the location of its headquarters in Panama a main priority of her administration. She attempted to join with the Central American countries to bargain collectively with the United States for a free trade pact, but the Bush administration, citing Panama’s differences with the neighboring banana republics, rejected this approach and insisted on bilateral talks.

The following is a summary of the four presidential candidates’ stated positions on the subject:

José Miguel Alemán, Arnulfista Party

Alemán favors a free trade deal, and is calling for “abbreviated negotiations” with the United States with the aim of increasing Panamanian export opportunities. However, we warns that Panama must defend its agricultural sector and promises that if he is elected he will not “unilaterally disarm” its protective tariffs or otherwise agree to a deal that’s not in the national interest.

Guillermo Endara, Solidaridad

Endara says that the free trade issue is more than an ordinary political issue, but rather a question with serious implications for national sovereignty. He says that free trade with the US was unrealistic for many years because Panama was too small to be of importance to the Americans, but now that has changed and the country must address the issue. He says he would appoint a well qualified negotiating team and defend Panama’s “food sovereignty.” He says that whatever may come of talks with the US, if elected he would continue the economic integration process with Central America.

Ricardo Martinelli, Cambio Democratico

Martinelli favors a free trade pact and says that political leaders need to go to the Panamanian people and convince them that it’s in their interests. He calls for the return of US military bases to Panama as an incentive for the Americans to accept free trade with this country.

Martín Torrijos, Democratic Revolutionary Party

Torrijos implicitly criticizes the current administration’s approach, saying that it’s irresponsible for a government without a clearly defined trade policy to be negotiating for economic integration. He generally supports the notion of a free trade pact and says that the challenge facing this country is to rearrange its economy to emphasize exports. He expresses concern about Panama’s economic fate if talks between the US and Central America and bilateral US-Colombian negotiations result in our neighbors being part of a free trade zone with the United States while Panama has no such arrangement.

Also in this section:
Business & Economy Briefs
Roadwork going slowly
Presidential candidates on the FTAA
Mireya calls for Harris investigation

business

FTAA a part of the presidential debate