Panama is the southernmost country in Central America and is home to about 3.8 million people. The country has been an international crossroads since Europeans discovered that Panama was the fastest route between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs More information about Panama is available on the Panama page and in other State Department publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet. Given Panama's location and role in global trade, its success is vital for U.Panama's key location along major land and maritime transit routes makes it a critical partner in the interdiction of illegal drugs bound for the United States.
Although Panama's economic growth rate is among the highest in the hemisphere, the country faces the challenge of making this growth more inclusive. Assistance to Panama aims to ensure that Panama remains a safe, prosperous and democratic country that continues to collaborate closely with the United States. The United States and Panama work together to promote common interests, including improving citizen security and strengthening the rule of law. Our countries cooperate in many ways, including the fight against illegal drug trafficking and other criminal activities, as well as the promotion of economic, democratic and social development. Strategy for managing migration On the sidelines of the Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, the Government of Panama publicly supported the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection (Los Angeles Declaration), which commits states to protecting the safety and dignity of all migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons, regardless of their migratory status, and recognizes that addressing irregular migration requires a regional approach.
The strategy to address the root causes of migration in Central America (RCS) guides U. Diplomatic efforts and foreign assistance in the region. The RCS is a bipartisan, multi-year plan of the United States Government that covers the seven Central American countries (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama). The RCS aims to address the security, governance and economic factors that drive irregular immigration and transnational crime, while increasing opportunities for the U.S. UU.
The United States and Panama signed a bilateral investment treaty and a trade promotion agreement. The trade agreement significantly reduces or eliminates tariffs and other barriers to U.S. exports, promotes economic growth, sets high standards for the treatment of investments, provides a framework for resolving trade or investment disputes, and expands trade between the two countries. Exports to Panama include oil, machinery, aircraft, agricultural products and consumer goods, and represent 25% of all goods and services imported by Panama and 60% of all food imports.
Panama's imports include seafood, tropical fruits, cane sugar, coffee and precious metals. Panama's membership in international organizations Panama and the United States belong to many of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, and the World Trade Organization. Panama is a founding member of the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD) and the Alliance of the Americas for Economic Prosperity (APEP). He also serves as pro tempore president of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR) and co-chair of the Economic and Health Dialogue of the Americas (EHA). Embassy officials are on the Department's List of Key Officials.
Panama, a Central American country located on the Isthmus of Panama, the narrow land bridge that connects North and South America. This tropical nation, which encompasses the isthmus and more than 1600 islands off its Atlantic and Pacific coasts, is known for being the headquarters of the Panama Canal, which crosses its middle section. It is also known for its natural beauty, for its varied plant and animal life, including hundreds of species of birds and trees, and for its vibrant music and culture. Home to several Native American peoples, such as the Guaymíes, the Kunas and the Chocó, Panama became the first Spanish colony in the Pacific.
The United States established diplomatic relations with Panama in 1903 after its separation from Colombia. After its independence in 1903, Panama negotiated an agreement with the United States for the construction of the Canal that the U. With the independence of Colombia, which once controlled Panama, from Spain, Panama became another stopping point, this time for ocean migrants heading to the California gold fields. Panama and the United States belong to many of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, and the World Trade Organization. It should be noted that the increase of protected land from 33% to 54% and strong ocean conservation efforts have made Panama one of only three countries with negative carbon emissions in the world.
The Pacific coast extends across the Azuero Peninsula and the Gulf of Panama and through numerous promontories and bays, while the largest cove on the Caribbean side is the Chiriqui Lagoon. For the first time in nearly a century as an independent nation, Panama controlled the entirety of its national territory. Changes in the Panamanian government and tensions surrounding the Canal caused diplomatic relations to be interrupted several times during the 20th century. On the sidelines of the Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, the Government of Panama publicly supported the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection (Los Angeles Declaration), which commits states to protecting the safety and dignity of all migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons, regardless of their immigration status, and recognizes that addressing irregular migration requires a regional approach. Panama is bordered to the north by the Caribbean Sea (an extension of the Atlantic Ocean) and to the south by the Pacific Ocean.
The Panama Canal serves as a maritime shortcut that saves time and costs in transporting all types of goods. A central spine of mountain ranges extends almost the entire length of Panama, dividing the country into slopes facing the Atlantic and the Pacific.
