import licensing system of Panama
questions from the United States to Panama
The
following submission, dated 22 March 2022, is being circulated at the request
of the delegation of the United States.
_______________
The
United States of America understands that periodic volume limits for onion
imports are recommended by the Potato and Onion Agri-Food Chain (Agri-Food
Chain), endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture (MIDA), and enforced by the
Panamanian Food Agency (APA).
According
to the Technical Unit of the Agri-Food Chain's Proposal for Importation for the
Agricultural Period 2021-2022, the United States understands that the Agri-Food
Chain approved import volumes according to a supply analysis and that the
Directorate of Agricultural Trade Policy and the Technical Unit of Agri-Food
Chains awarded percentages of imports based on the percentage of national
purchases. The volume limits appear to be a type of quantitative restriction and
require importers to provide proof of total domestic onions purchased from
January-May 2021 to receive import quantity allocations. The United States is
concerned by MIDA's decision taken in May 2021 to limit volumes to importers
who meet these requirements established by the Agri-Food Chain.
The United States further understands once importers meet these
requirements, and receive the allocated volumes, they must request approval
through APA's prior notification system within 48 hours upon arrival for the
imports to be cleared through Panamanian Customs Authority.
·
Please identify the measures,
including the documents and their source, for the domestic purchase requirements.
·
What is the legal basis and
objective for the domestic purchase requirements?
·
Please explain how the Potato and
Onion Agri-Food Chain calculate the admissible volume quantities using the
supply analysis.
·
How does the Agri-Food Chain
calculate the quantities for domestic purchase requirement?
When does Panama intend to submit notifications
to the WTO related to the domestic purchase requirements?