Only few steps remaining for US pact with Panama

A long-delayed free trade agreement between the United States and Panama will go into force once the Central American country takes a few remaining steps, a top US trade official said.

"The United States and Panama are on the eve of bringing an historic trade agreement into force," Deputy US Trade Representative Miriam Sapiro said in a speech at the US Chamber of Commerce.

The US Congress approved the free trade pact nearly a year ago, several years after it was originally negotiated by the Republican administration of former president George W. Bush.

Source: Reuters