That’s the number of American companies that currently export to Panama. A whopping 7,275 of those are small and medium-sized businesses. The Chamber is running two trade ads today, the first in Roll Call, making that point and urging approval of the U.S.-Panama trade agreement.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk on April 18 sent a letter to Congress commenting that “Panama has now fulfilled its commitments” and the administration is now prepared to engage in technical discussions with Congress on a draft implementing bill for the U.S.-Panama trade agreement.

The government of Panama recently approved labor legislation and a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) with the United States, eliminating the last possible objections to the agreement’s approval.

Also, Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli is traveling to Washington this week for his first White House meeting with President Obama on April 28. Panamanian Minister of Commerce and Industry Roberto Henríquez will visit the Chamber on April 26 to discuss the trade accord with the business community.

As the Chamber ad in Roll Call points out, U.S. exports to Panama have nearly tripled in the past five years, and there’s real money on the table. In fact, we think we’ll see another 8,608 American companies angling to get a piece of the action in the booming Panamanian market.

The second ad, in CQ Weekly, points to how the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement will open the booming Colombian market to American manufacturers. We've made the case for the Colombia agreement repeatedly in recent weeks, here, here and here.

A bipartisan consensus has emerged in Congress on the need to approve the pending trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama now — within the next few weeks. As part of this grand bargain, we also need to renew Trade Adjustment Assistance, the Andean Trade Preferences, and the Generalized System of Preferences.

We have a chance in the weeks ahead to create American jobs, reaffirm vital alliances, and show that the United States can still lead. Let’s seize it — now — with both hands.

Download the PDF of the Chamber's CQ Weekly ad

Download the PDF of the Chamber's Roll Call ad