News
Thursday 3rd April 2025.
April 2, 2025
On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the imposition of a 10% tariff on all Panamanian products shipped to the United States.
According to data from Panama’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the total value of Panamanian exports to the United States in 2024 totaled $264.6 million.
The most exported products were fish and shellfish, with a total of $78.6 million, representing 29.7% of exports. Sugars and confectionery products came in second place, with $50.7 million (19.1%), followed by stone, plaster, and cement products, which reached $45 million.
Ninety-five percent of Panamanian products are covered by the Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) between Panama and the United States, according to statements made to La Prensa by Bianca Morán, president of the Panamanian Exporters Association (Apex).
The measure is part of a broader strategy by Trump, who implemented “reciprocal” tariffs worldwide.
This has caused uncertainty among Panamanian exporters, who will evaluate the impact of the measure, according to Morán.
Deputies from the ruling Realizing Goals (RM) party travel to Miami , Florida, on Ricardo Martinelli ‘s private plane , this Thursday, April 2, to participate in a paid event at Mar-a-Lago , the private residence of US President Donald Trump .
The group of travelers includes all the representatives from that party, except for Dana Castañeda , Ronald De Gracia , and Omar Ortega. Also included are Shirley Castañeda and Jamis Acosta , who are also Martinelli’s lawyers. Acosta is also the second vice president of the National Assembly.
The trip was reportedly paid for by Martinelli, who also purchased a table for 12 people at the gala and made his family’s private plane available to the deputies.
The deputies boarded at the Marcos A. Gelabert airport , in Albrook, where the Hawker 800XP model aircraft has remained all these days (except for a brief trip on Tuesday to David, Chiriquí, to transport Ricardo and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares ), waiting for a decision on whether Martinelli will be able to travel to Nicaragua , as an asylum seeker.
From Albrook, the plane moved to the Tocumen cargo terminal, shortly before 3:00 pm. It was from there that it departed for Miami.
Information about the aircraft registered N799RM has been blocked at the request of its owners, and its movements cannot be tracked except when it is in flight, as is currently the case.
The American Patriots Gala will be held Thursday evening at Trump’s mansion and begins at 6:00 pm with a cocktail reception , followed by dinner and dancing. Tickets were on sale until March 12; the ” sold out” sign was posted that day . Informal ticket resale has reportedly driven up the cost of tickets, which were originally priced at $1,100 per person.
At the gala, Argentine President Javier Milei will receive the “Make America Great Again” award, inspired by Trump’s presidential campaign slogan. Milei will also be honored for his leadership and commitment to national security. Another honoree of the evening is actor Eduardo Verastegui .
Representatives Shirley Castañeda and Luis Eduardo Camacho met with Verastegui last January at a gala prior to Trump’s inauguration.
The event is organized by John Rourke , founder of Make America Clean Again (MACA) and evangelical pastor Glenn Parada .
APM Terminals , an independent division of Danish shipping company AP Moller-Maersk , announced the acquisition of the Panama Canal Railway Company (PCRC) from Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited and Lanco Group/Mi-Jack.
The purchase transaction with PCRC covers the concession that was granted for a 25-year renewal to operate the 76-kilometer (47-mile) railway line adjacent to the Panama Canal, which primarily facilitates the movement of cargo between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
In a statement dated April 2 from The Hague, APM Terminals indicated that in 2024, this trans-isthmian railway generated revenues of $77 million and profits (EBITDA) of $36 million.
“ Panama Canal Railway Company represents an attractive infrastructure investment that aligns with our core business of container handling,” said Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals.
The CEO of APM Terminals added that the company is recognized for its operational excellence and will provide a significant opportunity that will allow us to offer a broader range of services to the global ocean freight customers we serve.
APM Terminals has developed and operated container terminals around the world and was interested in developing another container port like the Corozal project in Panama.
This company is an independent division of A.P. Moller-Maersk and has facilities in 60 key locations in 33 countries around the world , with several under development. APM Terminals employs approximately 33,000 people, and in 2024, there were 27,000 port calls and 23.2 million terminal movements.
In the Americas region, APM Terminals operates 14 terminals in 8 countries.
“We are pleased to have completed this transaction with APM Terminals, a division of AP Moller-Maersk, a strategic partner of Canadian Pacific Kansas City and a major customer of the Panama Canal Railway Company,” said Keith Creel, president and chief executive officer of Canadian Pacific Kansas City.
He maintained that the sale of this asset creates value for shareholders and reflects the company’s commitment to optimizing its assets while focusing on growing its core rail business in North America, through the three-country network connecting Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
The political climate in Panama is heating up with the exchange of statements between former President Martín Torrijos and the current Minister of the Environment, Juan Carlos Navarro .
The confrontation comes at a key moment for the country. Former President Ricardo Martinelli is expected to leave the Nicaraguan Embassy in Panama, where he sought refuge to avoid arrest following the confirmation of his conviction for money laundering.
Torrijos, who governed between 2004 and 2009 and sought to return to power in the 2024 elections, published a harsh message on social media in which he criticized the current administration of José Raúl Mulino .
“Regardless of whether former President Martinelli leaves for Nicaragua or not, the future of Panamanians doesn’t depend on that. We already knew that Martinelli wasn’t Mulino, nor was Mulino Martinelli, nor that ‘chen chen’ would appear. This helped them win, but believe me, not to govern,” he said.
According to Torrijos, the new administration has guaranteed impunity to those who “stole Panamanians’ money,” which has led, he says, to a management marked by “improvisation, inconsistency, imposition, and growing disappointment.”
He even asked Mulino to “correct course,” arguing that the country needs “strong institutions, transparent decisions, and truth-telling.”
Navarro was quick to respond to his former colleague from the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD).
“Now I’ve seen it all. The ‘Dominican’ Martín forgets that he supported Nito Cortizo and Gabi [Laurentino Cortizo and José Gabriel Carrizo], appointed dozens of people and relatives of his in the previous administration, and was directly responsible for the disaster we inherited,” Navarro stated.
The minister also issued a harsh personal critique: ” Before acting brave and brash, this coward and traitor should apologize for betraying his father, his family name, and Omar’s party. And have the humility to accept the outcome of 2024.”
Although they are currently on different sides, both have a political history marked by similarities: they served as general secretaries of the PRD at different times, and shared positions and projects. Navarro also attempted to reach the Palacio de Las Garzas in the 2014 elections.
Due to strong waves and winds in the Panamanian Caribbean , the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) maintains a surveillance notice in effect until April 6, 2025.
The areas under warning include the Eastern Caribbean region, including the Costa Arriba of Colón and the Guna Yala region, where wave heights between 1.5 and 3.0 meters, with periods of 8.0 to 11.0 seconds, are expected.
In the Central Caribbean, which includes the Costa Abajo region of Colón and northern Veraguas, waves of between 1.5 and 2.8 meters are expected, with periods of 8.0 to 10.0 seconds.
Meanwhile, in the Western Caribbean, which includes the Ngäbe Buglé region and Bocas del Toro, waves could reach between 1.0 and 2.5 meters, with periods of 8.0 to 10.0 seconds.
The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) warns that a high-pressure system of great intensity is moving over the Atlantic, extending into the Caribbean Sea basin.
This phenomenon is reportedly generating an increase in trade wind speed, causing prolonged and frequent swells.
Due to these conditions, rip currents and flooding could occur in coastal areas, affecting various maritime and beach activities.
Given this situation, authorities recommend that the public follow the safety measures established in ports and beaches.
People are urged to avoid beaches as a precaution and to stay away from low-lying coastal areas.
Likewise, if sailing in light boats, it is essential to have personal flotation devices.
The National Energy Secretariat announced the new fuel prices , which will go into effect this Friday, April 4, with an increase of between 1 and 5 cents per liter.
According to the price table, 95-octane gasoline will increase by 5 cents per liter and will sell for $0.962 ($3.64 per gallon) .
Meanwhile, 91-octane gasoline will increase by 2 cents per liter to $0.888 ($3.36 per gallon) . Diesel will reportedly increase by 1 cent per liter to $0.814 ($3.08 per gallon) .
Fuel prices will begin at 6:00 a.m. this Friday, April 4, and will continue until 5:59 a.m. on Friday, April 18.