Panama Positions Itself as a Regional Leader in Strategic Trade Controls

By De Puy & Asociados

Panama is taking on an increasingly prominent role in regional security and non-proliferation policy, as demonstrated by its recent hosting of the Regional Conference on Strategic Trade Controls for Dual-Use Items. The event, held in Panama City and co-organized by the European Union’s Export Control Programme for Dual-Use Goods (EU P2), the U.S. Department of State’s EXBS Program, the U.S. Department of Energy’s INECP, and the Organization of American States (OAS), brought together officials from more than a dozen Latin American and Caribbean countries to strengthen the region’s capacity to regulate sensitive goods and technologies.

For Panama, this initiative carries special significance. As one of the hemisphere’s most vital logistics and transit hubs—anchored by the Panama Canal, major ports, and free-trade zones—the country occupies a strategic position in the global flow of goods. That same position, however, exposes it to heightened risks of illicit transshipment and diversion of dual-use items, materials and technologies that can serve both civilian and military purposes. By convening this conference, Panama sought not only to reaffirm its commitment to international security standards but also to demonstrate its readiness to lead by example in developing effective national control mechanisms.

Panama’s trade and security authorities have been steadily working to enhance coordination between customs, licensing, and enforcement bodies. The country’s participation in international export control initiatives reflects its broader strategy of aligning national regulations with the obligations set out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, which requires all states to establish controls over the export, transit, and re-export of sensitive items that could contribute to weapons proliferation.

Hosting the regional meeting also signals Panama’s intent to deepen cooperation with its strategic partners—the European Union and the United States—in building institutional capacity for risk assessment, licensing, and enforcement. The discussions focused on practical approaches to prevent the misuse of dual-use goods while facilitating legitimate trade, a key balance for a country whose economy depends heavily on open commerce and logistics services.

By serving as a platform for dialogue and training, the conference underscored Panama’s dual role as both a gateway for global trade and a guardian of responsible export practices. Strengthening strategic trade controls enhances not only the country’s compliance profile but also its credibility as a secure destination for investment in high-technology industries.