Text of the Canada–Panama Free trade agreement – Annex IV: International Maritime Sector

1. Object and Purpose

Recognizing the importance of maritime relations between their countries and international cooperation in this field and desiring to further develop these relations harmoniously, the Parties wish to affirm and complement the obligations of this Agreement applying to the international maritime sector.

2. Affirmation

The Parties wish to affirm the obligations of this Agreement applying to the international maritime sector. In particular, the Parties affirm that Chapter Ten (Cross Border Trade in Services) applies, among others, to international maritime transport services, including the access to and use of maritime auxiliary services, port services and onward transport services.

3. Temporary Importation

Regardless of origin, each Party shall accord to goods imported temporarily from the territory of the other Party, which may include maritime services goods, treatment no less favourable than the treatment it accords, with respect to the duty treatment of such goods, to goods imported temporarily under the same conditions from the territory of a non-Party that is party to the WTO Agreement. This paragraph does not apply if a Party ceases to be a party to the WTO Agreement.

4. Cooperation

Recognizing a shared commitment to safeguarding and promoting open and fair competition in the international maritime transport sector, as well as to good governance in matters relating to marine safety, the Parties shall endeavour to:

• encourage the exchange of information on best practices with respect to laws, regulations and policies relating to international maritime transport and maritime auxiliary services;
• work collaboratively to address obstacles faced by the users of international maritime transport services;
• facilitate the exchange of information and technology in the following areas: electronic navigation systems, simulation technology, maritime services optimization, marine pollution, port management, engineering, machinery, ship repair and naval architecture;
• encourage cooperation and interchange between marine training centres;
• continue to actively cooperate and offer mutual support in international fora, in particular, the International Maritime Organization;
• maintain a dialogue on effective flag state management; and
• explore any other areas for maritime cooperation on which the Parties may decide.

5. For the purposes of paragraph 4, each Party designates a maritime contact point as follows:

• for Canada:
  Director, Trade Policy, Transport Canada; and
• for Panama:
  Panama Maritime Authority or the occupants of a successor position.