United States, Panama hold trade talks in Tampa, Fla.

Byline: Dave Simanoff

Aug. 10--TAMPA, Fla. -- Negotiators representing the United States and Panama are meeting behind closed doors here all this week, hoping to hammer out a free trade treaty between the two countries.

The talks represent the fourth round of negotiations between the United States and Panama. Officials from both countries said that they are pleased with the progress and that an agreement is not far away, even though it might not be reached by Friday.

"Sometimes it takes six or seven, or even nine rounds" to negotiate a treaty, said Romel Adames, Panama's vice minister of trade, noting that he is confident the U.S.-Panama agreement …