The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced that the United States will initiate negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Sultanate of Oman and a separate FTA with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Under the “trade promotion authority” procedures set forth in the Trade Act of 2002, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC, a multi-agency body under the coordination of the US Trade Representative) must conduct a “probable economic effects” investigation regarding the two potential FTAs before formal negotiations begin. These investigations have now been instituted.
For the ITC investigation, written comments on the probable economic effect of providing duty-free treatment to products of Oman and the UAE are due by January 15, 2005. The ITC will hold a public hearing in these investigations on January 5, 2005., and requests to appear at the hearing must be submitted by no later than December 17. For the TPSC investigation, written comments are due by January 25, 2005. The TPSC will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed Oman FTA on January 14, and a public hearing regarding the proposed UAE FTA on January 12, 2005. In both cases, requests to appear at the hearings must be submitted by no later than January 5, 2005.
The two proposed FTAs are elements of the Administration’s strategic initiative for a Middle East Free Trade Area, which it has targeted for full completion by the year 2013. The U.S. already has FTAs in force with Israel and Jordan. FTAs with Morocco and Bahrain have been completed and signed, and are scheduled for implementation in early 2005.
Members with an interest in either the proposed Oman FTA or the proposed UAE FTA are urged to contact Bob Bauer and Jeff Levin as soon as possible, along with details regarding the specific product(s) of interest.
