战略与国际研究中心-The-Upcoming-Visit-of-the-President-of-Panama-to-the-United-States_1页_140kb

CRITICAL QUESTIONS: The Upcoming Visit of the President of Panama to the United States

Core Content

The document outlines the upcoming three-day visit of President Martin Torrijos of Panama to the United States, beginning on May 6, 2008. During this visit, Torrijos is scheduled to meet with President George W. Bush on May 9. The visit is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing key agreements, particularly the U.S.-Panama trade promotion agreement.

Main Issues in U.S.-Panama Relations

• Historical Context: The U.S.-Panama relationship has been long-standing and significant since Panama's independence in 1903, particularly due to the construction and operation of the Panama Canal.
• Current Trade Relationship: The United States is Panama's largest trade partner, and a trade promotion agreement (referred to as a free-trade agreement) was signed in 2007.
• Panama Canal Expansion: Panama is currently working on a major project to widen and deepen the canal, and to build new locks to accommodate larger ships, which is vital for international trade.
• Security Cooperation: Both countries share mutual interests in combating drug trafficking and international crime.

Prospects for the Trade Agreement

• Pending U.S. Approval: The trade promotion agreement with Panama is still awaiting approval by the U.S. Congress.
• Political Obstacle: The current president of the Panamanian National Assembly, Pedro Miguel González, is under indictment in the U.S. for the murder of a U.S. army sergeant in 1992, which has hindered progress toward congressional approval.
• Potential Resolution: González has reportedly announced to PRD leaders that he will not seek reelection as president of the National Assembly, which could resolve a key obstacle to the agreement's approval.
• Timing Uncertainty: Even with the resolution of the González issue, the timing of the agreement's ratification remains uncertain.

Key Information

• Visit Dates: May 6–8, 2008.
• Meeting with U.S. President: Scheduled for May 9, 2008.
• Trade Agreement Status: Pending U.S. Congressional approval.
• Political Context: The role of the National Assembly president in the approval process.
• Author: Peter DeShazo, who directs the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
• Publication: The document is part of the "Critical Questions" series by CSIS, which provides nonpartisan and nonproprietary analysis on international public policy issues.

Conclusion

The visit of President Torrijos to the U.S. is an important opportunity to address the pending trade agreement and to reinforce the strategic partnership between the two nations. The resolution of the González issue could pave the way for the agreement's approval, but the timing of its ratification remains a critical factor. The document highlights the importance of the Panama Canal expansion and security cooperation as key areas of mutual interest between the U.S. and Panama.