PANAMA: PRESIDENT TORRIJOS GRIPES THAT U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001189 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR FOR WHA/CEN - TELLO & FOR WHA/EPSC - KUBISKE ALSO FOR EB/TPP/BTA - LAMPRON STATE PASS USTR - SCHWAB, VERONEAU, AND EISSENSTAT USDOC/MAC - GAISFORD E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2017 TAGS: ETRD ECON PM SUBJECT: PANAMA: PRESIDENT TORRIJOS GRIPES THAT U.S. CONGRESS MOVING TPA GOALPOSTS Classified By: Ambassador William A. Eaton - Reasons 1.5(b and d) ¶1. (C) It would be "unfair and unwise" for the U.S. Congress to "move the goalposts" before acting on the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA),President Martin Torrijos told Ambassador on July 9. He was unhappy with recent statements from the U.S. Congress indicating that Panama and Peru had to pass all implementing legislation before the U.S. Congress would vote on the TPA. He recounted Panama's "good faith" efforts so far to legislate and implement necessary changes (such as creating a new, science-based Food Safety Authority to better manage sanitary & phytosanitary issues) even before signature of the TPA. Torrijos said the GOP would do the same if other legislation was required. ¶2. (C) Torrijos feared that the U.S. Congress' possible imposition of new pre-conditions for its action on the TPA could stir up nationalistic fervor in Panama that would be unhelpful for the TPA. He planned to visit New York City later in July, where he hoped to meet with House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel to prevent any "unpleasantness" during Rangel's August trip to Panama. Eaton