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Embassy Welcomes House Passage of U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement

The Embassy of the United States of America welcomes the decisive action taken by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 20 to approve the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. Once it enters into force, the agreement will further enhance a strong and historic bilateral relationship, one with its roots in the 1833 Treaty of Amity and Commerce that formally marked the opening of trade between Oman and the United States.

Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, United States Trade Representative, hailed the House passage of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement, saying, “Congress has sent the world a powerful message - America is committed to opening markets and contributing to global economic growth and development.”

The agreement provides for increased bilateral access for industrial, consumer, and agricultural goods and will provide for new opportunities in the services sector. The agreement also provides for a secure, predictable legal framework for U.S. investors operating in Oman, effective enforcement of labor and environmental laws, and protection for intellectual property.

The House of Representative’s approval of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement, signed on January 19, 2006 in Washington, follows the Senate’s approval on June 29. After completing additional legislative formalities, the agreement will go to the White House for President George W. Bush’s signature.

The U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement represents an important step in U.S. government efforts to strengthen its trade relations throughout the Middle East. Ambassador Schwab remarked that, “The free trade agreement with Oman, our fourth with an Arab country, reaffirms our commitment to a growing and evolving Middle East region. It is another major step forward in implementing President Bush's plan for a Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) by 2013, building on our existing agreements with Jordan, Morocco, and Bahrain.”