This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(February 2017)
The U.S.–MEFTA initiative started in 2003 with the purpose of creating a U.S.–Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013.
The U.S. objective with this initiative has been to gradually increase trade and investment in the Middle East, and to assist the Middle East countries in implementing domestic reforms, instituting the rule of law, protecting private property rights (including intellectual property), and creating a foundation for openness, economic growth, and prosperity.
Among the stated objectives are:
Screenshot from official US–MEFTA website, 15-11-2004
Actively supporting WTO membership of countries in the Middle East and Maghreb
Expanding the Generalized System of Preferencess that currently provides duty-free entry to the U.S. market for some 3,500 products from 140 developing economies
Negotiating bilateral investment treaties with interested countries by obligating governments to treat foreign investors fairly and offering legal protection equal to domestic investors
Negotiating comprehensive free trade agreements with willing countries that demonstrate a commitment to economic openness and reform
Helping to target more than $1 billion of annual U.S. funding and spur partnerships with private organizations and businesses that support trade and development
U.S.–Middle East Free Trade Efforts
Country
FTA
TIFA
BIT
WTO
GSP
Israel
Jordan
Morocco
Bahrain
Egypt
Lebanon
Negotiating Accession
Algeria
Negotiating Accession
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia
Not Eligible
Oman
Kuwait
Not Eligible
UAE
Announced
Not Eligible
Yemen
Negotiating Accession
Qatar
Not Eligible
Syria
Not Eligible
Iraq
Observer Status
Not Eligible
Libya
Negotiating Accession
Not Eligible
Iran
Not Eligible
Note: The Palestinian Authority participates in the U.S.–Israel FTA.
middle, east, free, trade, area, this, article, needs, updated, please, help, update, this, article, reflect, recent, events, newly, available, information, february, 2017, mefta, initiative, started, 2003, with, purpose, creating, 2013, objective, with, this,. This article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information February 2017 The U S MEFTA initiative started in 2003 with the purpose of creating a U S Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013 The U S objective with this initiative has been to gradually increase trade and investment in the Middle East and to assist the Middle East countries in implementing domestic reforms instituting the rule of law protecting private property rights including intellectual property and creating a foundation for openness economic growth and prosperity Among the stated objectives are Screenshot from official US MEFTA website 15 11 2004Actively supporting WTO membership of countries in the Middle East and Maghreb Expanding the Generalized System of Preferencess that currently provides duty free entry to the U S market for some 3 500 products from 140 developing economies Negotiating Trade and Investment Framework Agreements that establish a framework for expanding trade and resolving outstanding disputes Negotiating bilateral investment treaties with interested countries by obligating governments to treat foreign investors fairly and offering legal protection equal to domestic investors Negotiating comprehensive free trade agreements with willing countries that demonstrate a commitment to economic openness and reform Helping to target more than 1 billion of annual U S funding and spur partnerships with private organizations and businesses that support trade and developmentU S Middle East Free Trade Efforts Country FTA TIFA BIT WTO GSPIsraelJordanMoroccoBahrainEgyptLebanon NegotiatingAccessionAlgeria NegotiatingAccessionTunisiaSaudi Arabia Not EligibleOmanKuwait Not EligibleUAE Announced Not EligibleYemen NegotiatingAccessionQatar Not EligibleSyria Not EligibleIraq Observer Status Not EligibleLibya NegotiatingAccession Not EligibleIran Not EligibleNote The Palestinian Authority participates in the U S Israel FTA Contents 1 Active agreements 1 1 US agreements 1 2 Middle Eastern agreements 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksActive agreements editUS agreements edit The United States currently has several bilateral free trade agreements with nations in the region nbsp Bahrain Bahrain United States Free Trade Agreement nbsp Jordan Jordan United States Free Trade Agreement nbsp Morocco Morocco United States Free Trade Agreement nbsp Oman Oman United States Free Trade Agreement nbsp Israel Israel United States Free Trade AgreementMiddle Eastern agreements edit Additionally many potential MEFTA states are already members of the multilateral Greater Arab Free Trade Area nbsp Algeria nbsp Bahrain nbsp Egypt nbsp Iraq nbsp Jordan nbsp Kuwait nbsp Lebanon nbsp Libya nbsp Morocco nbsp Oman nbsp Palestine nbsp Qatar nbsp Saudi Arabia nbsp Sudan nbsp Syria nbsp Tunisia nbsp United Arab Emirates nbsp YemenOther states are members of the multilateral Arab Maghreb Union nbsp Algeria nbsp Libya nbsp Mauritania nbsp Morocco nbsp TunisiaThe following expected to constitute MEFTA 1 are not members of existing Middle Eastern agreements nbsp Cyprus nbsp IranSee also edit nbsp Business and economics portalGreater Middle East Middle East Partnership Initiative Lists of free trade agreements List of trade blocs Middle East economic integrationReferences edit Staff Middle East Free Trade Area Progress Report Congressional Research Service 1 June 2006External links editOfficial site White House Press Release 9 June 2004 U S Briefing at Department of State 6 May 2005 White House Press Release 17 October 2005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title U S Middle East Free Trade Area amp oldid 1183674955, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
