Secretary of State Rice in Panama for trade talks

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Panama for meetings aimed at finding ways for the hemisphere’s poor to share in the benefits of free-trade agreements signed by nations of the region.

Washington officials consider it a signature accomplishment that a number of free-trade agreements have been negotiated during the tenure of President George W. Bush, but critics say such agreements have meant job losses for Americans.

Rice meets Wednesday with ministers of countries that have signed such agreements with the United States. The one-day ministers conference is aimed partly at talking about ways that the benefits of free-trade agreements can be more broadly spread across societies to more sectors, such as small businesses and farmers.

The effort was launched in September when Bush met with leaders of trading-partner nations to talk about ways to consolidate progress on trade and look for ways to accentuate its positive aspects.

It is designed to “link trade and development and to ... ensure that the benefits of trade and the benefits of economic growth spread throughout our societies and reach the poorest and most vulnerable members,” said Thomas A. Shannon, assistant secretary of state for Western hemisphere affairs, as he traveled Tuesday to Panama with Rice.