VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #1152 1901506
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091506Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0766
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS PANAMA 001152 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN TELLO 
STATE FOR WHA/EPSC 
STATE FOR EB/TPP/BTA - LAMPOON 
STATE PASS USTR - EISSENSTAT & SHIGETOMI 
USDOC/MAC - GAISFORD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD PM
SUBJECT: EXTRAORDINARY LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER 
TRADE PROMOTION AGREEMENT 
 
REF: A. PANAMA 1065 
 
     ¶B. PANAMA 1095 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY.  President Martin Torrijos called an 
Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly to consider 
and vote on the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) 
on July 4, 2007.  This followed cabinet approval the TPA on 
July 3.  The Extraordinary Session will is scheduled to run 
July 5-11.  Approval of the TPA is expected.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Call for Extraordinary Session - Vote By July 11 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶2. (U)  On July 4, 2007, President Torrijos called an 
Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly to consider 
and vote on the TPA.  This happened five days after the TPA 
signing and twelve days after Panama signed a free trade 
agreement with Costa Rica. 
 
¶3. (U)  The Extraordinary Session began on July 5.  The 
Assembly will have until July 11, 2007, to deliberate and 
vote on the TPA.  As in the U.S., the Assembly will cast a 
simple yes or no vote and cannot amend any provision of the 
TPA.  Procedurally, the TPA goes first to the Foreign 
Relations Committee prior to debate before the full 
Assembly.  The TPA must go through three readings (one in 
the Foreign Relation Committee and two in the general 
Assembly) before a vote.  First Vice President/Foreign 
Minister Samuel Lewis stated that a week was sufficient time 
to deliberate, but more time would be allowed if deemed 
necessary.  As part of the Assembly's deliberations, 
approximately 60 civic groups were registered to address the 
Assembly on the TPA as of the close of business on July 4. 
Additional groups have since registered. 
 
------------------------------ 
Status Quo on Labor's Position 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (U)  Panama's National Council of Organized Labor 
(CONATO), Panama's labor central, voted to support the TPA 
(see Reftel A).  The 200,000 member Union of Construction 
Workers and Similar Industries (SUNTRACS), a radical, 
Cuban-inspired union, continued to oppose the TPA, claiming 
the GOP was unduly pressuring for an early vote on the 
matter.  The union representing social security workers had 
also come out against the TPA, claiming it would increase 
drug prices. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶5. (U)  Easy and swift ratification of the TPA by the 
Assembly is widely expected.  Legislators have consistently 
told EmbOffs that there is little doubt the TPA will be 
ratified.  The move by Torrijos to call for an 
Extraordinary Session of the Assembly so quickly is 
intended to demonstrate the GOP's strong support for the 
TPA and to signal the GOP's seriousness to the U.S. 
Congress.  To date, TPA opponents have been unable to 
muster any sustained, organized grassroots opposition to 
the accord. END COMMENT. 
Eaton