{"id":21765,"date":"2017-12-11T10:31:59","date_gmt":"2017-12-11T15:31:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=21765"},"modified":"2017-12-11T13:28:28","modified_gmt":"2017-12-11T18:28:28","slug":"china-panama-begin-talks-free-trade-deal-june-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com\/blog\/china-panama-begin-talks-free-trade-deal-june-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"China, Panama to Begin Talks on Free-Trade Deal in June 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Reuters reports:<\/p>\n

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Panama and China will begin negotiations in June 2018 to sign a free-trade deal, the two countries’ trade ministers said on Thursday, consolidating a relationship that has strengthened after the Central American nation ditched ties with Taiwan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Panama’s June decision to end diplomatic links with Taiwan was a major victory for Beijing, as it lures away the dwindling number of countries that have formal relations with the island China claims as its own. Last month, a senior Chinese diplomat said China will provide Panama with whatever help it needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Talks to sign a free-trade treaty will begin in June next year, said Panama Trade Minister Augusto Arosemena, who was speaking in Panama City alongside his Chinese counterpart, Zhong Shan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Chinese official said it was important to accelerate talks to open up trade between the two countries and deepen commercial links.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“China is willing to stimulate its companies to actively participate in the construction of infrastructure in Panama, including ports, that would be based on mutual interest,” Zhong said.<\/p>\n

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