U.S.–Middle East Free Trade Area

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 Preferences 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 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.

Active agreements

US agreements

The United States currently has several bilateral free trade agreements with nations in the region.

•  Bahrain Bahrain–United States Free Trade Agreement
•  Jordan Jordan–United States Free Trade Agreement
•  Morocco Morocco–United States Free Trade Agreement
•  Oman Oman–United States Free Trade Agreement
•  Israel Israel-United States Free Trade Agreement

Middle Eastern agreements

Additionally many potential MEFTA states are already members of the multilateral Greater Arab Free Trade Area.

•  Algeria
•  Bahrain
•  Egypt
•  Iraq
•  Jordan
•  Kuwait
•  Lebanon
•  Libya
•  Morocco
•  Oman
•  Palestine
•  Qatar
•  Saudi Arabia
•  Sudan
•  Syria
•  Tunisia
•  United Arab Emirates
•  Yemen

Other states are members of the multilateral Arab Maghreb Union.

•  Algeria
•  Libya
•  Mauritania
•  Morocco
•  Tunisia

The following, expected to constitute MEFTA,^[1] are not members of existing Middle Eastern agreements:

•  Cyprus
•  Iran

See also

• Greater Middle East
• Middle East Partnership Initiative
• Lists of free trade agreements
• List of trade blocs
• Middle East economic integration

References

1. Staff, "Middle East Free Trade Area: Progress Report", Congressional Research Service, 1 June 2006

External links

• Official 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