. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/114 
2 December 2009 
 (09-6409) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   Spanish 
 
  
PANAMA 
 
Statement by HE Mr Roberto C. Henríquez
 
Minister of Trade and Industry  
   At the Sixth Ministerial Conference held in Hong Kong, we, the member countries, reiterated 
our commitment to achieve the objectives of the Doha R ound.  It is Panama's view that the factors that 
the world financial crisis has introduced into th e multilateral negotiations force us to redouble our 
efforts to give new life to the Round and to stimulate world economic growth.   Panama welcomes the advances in the agreemen ts for the export of Latin American bananas 
and other tropical products to the European Union after almost two decades of trade disputes.  We have made a fitting contribution to this process, by  maintaining a fluid dialogue with the European 
Commission.  These agreements provide a solution that is economically beneficial and legally 
sustainable for all the parties involved in this long dispute and we also believe that, in the broader 
context of the multilateral system, they will act as a catalyst that will reinvigorate the long-drawn-out 
Doha Round.  Thus, the time has come to not draw out any longer this process so as to bring these 
negotiations to a definitive conclusion.  Accordi ngly, Panama is calling upon all the Parties, which 
must, directly or indirectly, support its conclusion, to avoid further systemic debates and direct their 
efforts to its signature and application.   Our position in the negotiations of the Deve lopment Round has always been to seek the 
elimination of all the practices that distort tr ade and affect countries' competitive capacity.  In 
Panama's view, the elimination of agricultural export subsidies in 2013 represents one of the most 
important promises of this Round. 
  With regard to non-agricultural goods, we we lcome the considerable progress achieved by the 
Negotiating Group on Market Access.  We wish to  continue advancing towards the objective of 
lowering the levels of the bound tariffs and achieving the binding of unbound import tariffs. 
 
 In addition, we support the proposals di scussed in the Negotiating Group on Trade 
Facilitation to achieve customs automation, alliances  to combat commercial fraud and the movement 
of illegal goods, and the harmoni zation of customs procedures. 
 
 However, we believe that the figure of the cu stoms clearing agent has a positive role to play 
in trade facilitation, acting as the intermedia ry between the trader and the customs. 
  Panama is committed to achieving significant pr ogress in the efforts to liberalize the trade in 
services and, in particular, financial, maritime and t ourism services.  I should lik e to draw attention to 
our banking sector which, on account of its strength, has successfully confronted the financial crisis 
that has affected major markets.  Our maritime a nd logistical sector involved with the Canal and the WT/MIN(09)/ST/114 
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  ports is a centre of attraction for the investments made in Panama.  Tourism brings in well-deserved 
incomes for the people of our countries.   On account of the obvious strength and probity w ith which our financial sector carries on its 
business, Panama does not view favourably the lists  which, outside the rules and disciplines that 
regulate the trade in services, but on the pretext of defending political and fiscal interests, seek to act 
as a basis for sanctions, tax burdens or any other meas ure that discriminates against financial services.  
Consequently, Panama has embarked  on energetic international acti on to facilitate cooperation in the 
exchange of fiscal information.  However, we are also prepared to assert our rights through the 
mechanisms provided by the multilateral system, shoul d situations arise which,  in violation of the 
rules of the WTO, restrict or discriminate negatively against our commercial interests. 
  Finally, Panama feels able to support the decisions proposed on electronic commerce and on 
the cases of non-violation under the TRIPS Agreement,  recognizing that they are important for the 
advance of the multilateral system. 
 
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