Prensa Latina, Cuba

Honduras, Panama Sign Free Trade

15 June 2007

Tegucigalpa, Jun 15 (Prensa Latina) Presidents Manuel Zelaya, Honduras, and Martin Torrijos, Panama, will sign a free trade agreement in this capital on Friday, after bilateral negotiations that concluded last month in the Panamanian capital.

Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Enrique Reina informed the deal will replace a preferential exchange agreement signed in 1973, and allow Panama to open its market to 83.5 percent of Honduran products, under equal terms.

Bilateral negotiations were held amid scepticism of agricultural sectors in both countries, for considering the governments have failed to give them enough support to face free trade risks.