The Free Zone of Colon (ZLC) at the Atlantic gateway to the Panama Canal is losing US$50 million per day due to a strike by Panamanian Customs officers, according to Xinhua news agency.
Giovanni Ferrari, president of the Users Association, said he was concerned with the devastating effects of the strike.
"To the difficulties we already have with some of our main clients like Colombia and Ecuador, now we add this internal problem," Ferrari said.
The strike started on Wednesday. On the first day, some 3,000 containers were stuck at the ZLC. Customs services to process cargo in both the ports and airports are suspended, affecting not only the economy of Panama but also the entire region.
Edgardo Voitier, general secretary of the Association of Customs Officers, said the strike would continue indefinitely since the workers had not received an answer to their demands.
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