Coverage of national economic trends, policy decisions, and indicators that affect everyday life. We provide analysis of fiscal policy, employment, and growth drivers.
Only 17% of workers in Panama say they are in the childhood dream job they once imagined, according to a new study. The findings also show high frustration and broad dissatisfaction with current employment.
Trump said the U.S. will raise tariffs next week on cars and trucks imported from the European Union, heightening trade tensions with Brussels. The move could ripple through global auto supply chains and affect commerce well beyond Europe.
Panama’s National Assembly approved a bill requiring clearer identification of food product origin and stronger labeling rules for originals, substitutes, and imitations. The measure also adds accessibility and enforcement provisions aimed at protecting consumers.
Retirees and pensioners who receive checks will be able to collect their CSS payments on May 4 at payment centers and agency locations. The schedule offers beneficiaries a clear date to plan for their monthly income.
Idaan deputy director Luis Santanach has resigned as Panama faces a worsening water supply crisis affecting the capital and interior regions. The move comes as authorities continue dealing with shortages in areas including Azuero.
José Luis Varela said the Executive branch needed to better explain the bioethanol bill, while Alexandra Brenes linked its suspension to concerns over sugar mill board members tied to government circles. The debate has raised broader questions about transparency and public trust.
Trump said he has raised tariffs on autos from the European Union to 25%, accusing Brussels of failing to comply with a trade deal. The move escalates transatlantic trade tensions and could ripple through global supply chains.
Panama’s Labor Day celebrations contrast sharply with a labor market marked by 10.4% unemployment and widespread informality. The day after the holiday underscores the country’s continuing struggle to turn economic activity into real worker stability.
President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on European Union cars and trucks, intensifying a trade dispute that could affect global supply chains and transatlantic commerce.
The United States has warned shipping companies not to pay fees tied to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions in the Gulf remain high. The move underscores the risk to global energy and shipping flows, with indirect implications for Panama’s trade-linked economy.
Panama observed May Day with demonstrations that put labor concerns, wages and working conditions in the spotlight. The annual rallies remain an important outlet for unions and civic groups to push for policy changes.
Panama’s 2026 Fiscal Lottery draws will take place in the second half of May, with provinces grouped by region. The program aims to encourage receipt collection and support tax compliance.
The European Union’s trade deal with Mercosur has taken provisional effect, creating a giant free trade area spanning Europe and South America. The agreement could reshape trade flows, investment and export opportunities across the Atlantic.
Frozen shrimp led Panama’s exports in the first quarter of 2026, helping push total goods exports up 0.6%. The result highlights the strength of the country’s seafood sector.
Rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are putting new focus on the Panama Canal as a strategic trade route in the U.S.-China rivalry. For Panama, the canal remains both an economic pillar and a key geopolitical asset.
May 1 marks Labor Day around the world, a date rooted in the fight for shorter hours, fair pay, and labor protections. In Panama, the eight-hour workday was established in 1914 under Belisario Porras.
Labor Day in Panama highlighted a clear shift in how many people earn a living, with freelance work, digital platforms and entrepreneurship gaining ground. The trend points to a more flexible but changing labor market.
Panama’s OECD ambitions are being linked to a broader reform agenda focused on productivity, innovation and diversification. The push highlights informality, weak R&D and the need to modernize the state.
Nelva Reyes marked May Day with a forceful defense of labor rights, warning that informal work, weak wages, and union pressures are still hurting Panamanian workers. She also linked the holiday to the historical struggle that won the eight-hour day.
Panama’s National Assembly suspended a bill that would add a charge on shipping containers to help fund pension increases. President José Raúl Mulino distanced his government from the proposal, which now returns to a second debate.