The governments of Cuba and Panama meet quietly to discuss immigration issues.

Cuban official media made no reference this time to the exchange held two days ago between diplomats from the Republic of Panama and officials from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The talks were specifically designed to address the complex situation arising from the unexpected suspension of tourist cards that the Cuban government had been selling for several months to Cubans interested in shopping in the Central American nation.

Indeed, as published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama in its web pageOn July 31, the Panamanian ambassador in Havana, Max José López Cornejo, met with Jorge Luis Mayo Fernández, in charge of the Department of Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean of MINREX, Ms. Laura Ivet Pujol Medina, Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Consular Affairs and Attention to Cubans Living Abroad, and Ms. Yanet Stable Cárdenas, Director of Migration Policy and Attention to Cubans Living Abroad.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the recent measures adopted by the Panamanian government regarding the extension of tourist cards and stamped visas issued by the Panamanian Consulate in Havana to Cuban citizens wishing to travel to that country for shopping tourism.

According to the site During the meeting, the possibility of holding a second round of migration issues was raised, which would finally define the mechanisms that will allow for orderly, gradual, and safe migration that would be beneficial to both countries. This meeting had been planned since last November and is very likely to be expedited given the current situation.

Diplomat López Cornejo argued that the government he represents will take into account the cases of those Cubans who had already purchased their plane ticket before July 24, 2019, to travel using a tourist card.

On July 24, the National Migration Service (SNM) reported that the issuance of tourist cards had temporarily ceased, because immigration authorities were studying the procedures for entering Panama as a tourist.

According to some analysts, this revision could be essentially due to two fundamental causes:

1. The pressure currently being exerted by the administration of US President Donald Trump on Central American governments to stem the flow of migrants arriving in the northern country through its border with Mexico.

2. The Cuban government's interest in curbing a trade movement that poses serious competition to Cuban importing entities.

However, so far this is only speculation, as neither country has made a coherent statement about where the sudden closure of the Panamanian consulate in Havana is leading. In other words, are they closing it to reduce the flow of Cuban tourists, or are the current analyses intended to facilitate Cuban incursions into the isthmus?

Forecasts seem to point to the first of the two options, since the SNM said it would refer to the procedure established by Decree Law No. 3 of February 22, 2008, which authorizes the entry of tourists to Panamanian soil based on a stamped visa and complying with a series of requirements that had been annulled with the issuance of tourist cards.

In other words, a return to this provision would mean the elimination of all the benefits granted until now. Remember, it's enough to have previously traveled to a third country or to possess a self-employed worker's card.

The current suspension of tourist cards is a disastrous event for both Cuban merchants and their Panamanian counterparts, who have posted numerous messages of protest on social media due to the loss of approximately $20 million a month in purchases, an amount that Cuban tourism represented before the cards were suspended.

The Colón Free Trade Zone Users Association expressed optimism regarding the current handling of the issue by the Director General of the National Immigration Service, who recently met with them and is demanding that travel permits be reinstated as soon as possible.

We made a visit to the @auzonalibre, in order to clarify any doubts regarding the temporary suspension of issuing tourist cards to Cuban citizens. We reiterate that entry into the country requires a stamped visa. #TogetherWeDoIt pic.twitter.com/fES2OjKbtx

– Panama Migration (@migracionpanama) August 1, 2019

The executive stated that there is a strong interest on the part of the government to encourage investment and reactivate the economy in what is the second largest free trade zone in the world.

Successful meeting with Giovanni Ferrari and the Director of the National Migration Service @GioBFerrari @Gozainesamira pic.twitter.com/AzDTCHG6pB

— AU Colon Free Zone (@auzonalibre) July 30, 2019