Washington, DC – Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statement today as the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement: 

“I commend Chairman Baucus and Senator Grassley for holding today’s hearing.  It sends a much-needed signal to Panama that the U.S. Congress is serious about considering and passing this important agreement,” said Camp.  “As we have seen, the mere starting of our legislative process has the ability to bring about real change from our trading partners, spurring Panama to make yesterday many of the changes to its labor laws that the Obama Administration had requested. I hope that the Ways & Means Committee will begin work on this agreement soon so that American workers and businesses finally have equal access to the Panamanian market.”

Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Brady added, “The benefits of the Panama Trade Promotion Agreement are clear. This agreement would create new customers for American products and services and cement an economic relationship that benefits both countries.  I, too, commend Chairman Baucus and Senator Grassley for holding today’s hearing, because it provided the American people with an opportunity to learn more about the benefits the agreement will bring to U.S. workers.”

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