He said that US agricultural producers sold products worth $200 million to Panama in 2005 and that under the new agreement, more than half of all current US farm exports to Panama will become duty-free immediately, including high quality beef, mechanically de-boned chicken, turkey and pork variety meats. He added that US farmers will also benefit from expanded market access through tariff-rate quotas on products such as pork, chicken leg quarters and dairy products. Tariffs on most remaining US farm products will be phased out within 15 years.

Mr Johanns stated, "Panama is revising its sanitary and phytosanitary regulations recognising the equivalence of the US food safety inspection system for meat, poultry and processed food products. Panama will also provide market access for US beef and poultry products consistent with international standards and recognize the US beef grading system. In addition, this agreement streamlines import documentation requirements for US processed foods.”

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