PANAMA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OVERWHELMINGLY RATIFIES

UNCLAS PANAMA 001193 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN - TELLO & GREENE & FOR WHA/EPSC ALSO FOR EB/TPP/BTA -LAMPRON STATE PASS USTR -EISSENSTAT AND SHIGETOMI USDOC/MAC - GAISFORD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD PM SUBJECT: PANAMA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OVERWHELMINGLY RATIFIES TPA REF: PANAMA 01095 ¶1. (U) Panama's National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to ratify the U.S. - Panama TPA on July 11, 2007. Fifty eight MSI6632 INVALID FORMAT LINE 12 members of the assembly voted in favor of the TPA, three voted against it (Mireya Lasso, Miguel Fanovich, and Enrique Garrido),one member (Wigberto Quintero) abstained, and nine were not present. Those that voted against the TPA said there was not enough time for representatives to read the entire contents of the agreement and gain an understanding of the impact of its implementation. Vice Minister of Trade Carmen Gisela Vergara noted publicly that she clearly explained all that transpired during the negotiations, the gains that were made, and expectations concerning the various sectors. Vice President Samuel Lewis Navarro said that the next task will be to obtain ratification by the U.S. Congress and work along side various sectors to implement the agreement. ¶2. (U) The Assembly ratified the TPA minutes before anti-TPA protesters showed up in front of the Assembly's building. Led by the National Front for Economic and Social Rights (Frenadeso),the protesters claimed that the TPA did not represent the interest of the people and that the U.S. would have disproportionately larger gains in regard to tariff reductions than Panama as a result of the TPA. -------------- COMMENT: -------------- ¶3. (U) This overwhelming vote for the TPA reflects the broad political consensus in Panama for further trade openings. It also reflects the GOP's concerted outreach campaigns over the past six months to sell the TPA's merits. As reported in reftel # 01095, the GOP also sought this quick ratification to signal its seriousness to the U.S. congress. END COMMENT Eaton