On 18 November
2003 the USTR notified the United States Congress of
the Administration's intent to initiate a free trade
agreement (FTA) with the Republic of Panama.
Negotiations began in Panama City, Panama on 26
April 2004. In February 2006, at the request
of the Government of Panama the U.S. agreed to a
technical review of the US food safety inspection
system. A notice of intent to enter into a free trade agreement was sent to Congress on 30 March 2007. The FTA was signed on 28 June 2007.