As part of the negotiations for the TPA, the “The United States – Panama Agreement Regarding Certain Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Standards Affecting Trade in Agricultural Products” was signed and entered force on December 20, 2006.  This agreement made large strides in eliminating sources of discretion and abuse in the import approval process, thus lifting most sanitary or phytosanitary barriers. Panama has relatively few trade barriers.