So much for George Bush being intimidated by the bitter union- and leftist-bankrolled struggle this past summer to ratify CAFTA. In less than four weeks, negotiators say a free trade pact with Panama could be signed. Negotiators are rushing to polish up the accord in the last weeks before President George Bush visits the wonderful country in early November. If they can get it done, it send a spectacular message to the rest of the Americas that free trade is alive and well and nobody, but nobody, will be shut out of the growing potential for U.S.-style prosperity up and down the hemisphere. This is no partisan issue and I am not at all sure even Bush knows the importance of it. But it’s really good that it’s happening.

I, frankly, am dazzled!

Panama is a tiny, but important, country. What makes this news is the fact that free trade continues to march forward no matter what the anti-free-traders try to do to stop it. George Bush is not going to let the hard left win on this. Here’s what Goldman Sachs has to say about this:

PANAMA

Panama and the United States to Engage in the Last Round of Negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement

United States and Panamanian representatives are set to hold a new round of negotiations later this month with the aim of reaching a free trade agreement between the two countries. The free trade talks started in 2003 but stalled over disagreement on agricultural trade. The goal is now to reach an agreement before President Bush visits Panama in November as part of a trip that will also include Argentina and Brazil.