Panama (Tuesday, 2:00 PM)

How is Panama thinking about this new baseline tariff of 10 percent?

It might actually be an opportunity for Panama since other countries can see Panama as a base to export or re-export and to add some value to certain products. The proximity to the US, the geographical position is obviously our very important asset and competitive edge.

I’m more optimistic than I was probably a year ago… I had the privilege of participating in meetings with both Secretary Rubio and Secretary Hegseth… both were excellent meetings… we saw eye-to-eye in terms of reaching an understanding, agreements.

It's an opportunity to put Panama on the map and to attract more foreign direct investments. The US is still the number one investor.

I was on the phone with BlackRock this morning, and they confirmed that… the process is going along. It’s a complex transaction. It's a big transaction. We're talking about forty some countries, forty some ports around the world, not just the two of Panama. So there's work to be done.

I would put side by side “America first” and “Panama first.” I think we can achieve that together.

Where do you see things going… insofar as the trajectory of a mutually beneficial US-Panama economic relationship?

Going back to the BlackRock deal, those deals are moving forward at this point and all systems go, right?

Jason Marczak

What do you see insofar as the next phase of this relationship with the US?

Felipe Chapman Minister of Economy and Finance of Panama

Jason Marczak

Felipe Chapman Minister of Economy and Finance of Panama