Middle East Free Trade Area
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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:
- Actively supporting WTO membership of countries in the Middle East and Maghreb
- Expanding the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP's) 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 (TIFA's) that establish a framework for expanding trade and resolving outstanding disputes
- Negotiating Bilateral Investment Treaties (BIT's) with interested countries by obligating governments to treat foreign investors fairly and offering legal protection equal to domestic investors
- Negotiating comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (FTA's) 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
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| Note: The Palestinian Authority participates in the U.S. — Israel FTA. |
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[edit] Current Agreements
[edit] US Agreements
The US currently has several bilateral free trade agreements with nations in the region.
Bahrain United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement
Israel US-Israel Free Trade Agreement
Jordan US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement
Morocco United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement
Oman US-Oman Free Trade Agreement
[edit] Middle Eastern Agreements
Additionally many potential MEFTA states are already members of the multilateral Greater Arab Free Trade Area.
United Arab Emirates- Bahrain
Egypt
Iraq- Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya- Morocco
- Oman
Palestine
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia
Yemen
Other states are members of the multilateral Arab Maghreb Union.
[edit] Potential Issues
The single largest hurdle to MEFTA is the inclusion of Israel. Additional complications exist in getting agreements between the US and nations like Iran and Syria. Complications could still exist in getting trade with Lebanon and Palestine as long as groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah continue attacks.
Other negotiations are largely minimized due the existence of current agreements and that there is not a lot of manufacturing industry in Arab states. For the majority of Arab states the economy is dependent on Oil production. These factors mean there is little need for protective tariffs to prevent cheaper foriegn goods from usurping local Companies. With little or no home industry Arab states are dependent on foreign goods for everything from Cars to household products. Governments therefore have a strong interest in eliminating tarrifs to reduce prices.
One notable exception to this rule is the production of food. While most foods may be impractical to import from the United States where the are relatively cheap, eliminating barriers of trade among Arab states may lead to decreased prices of regionally grown food and protests among farmers.
[edit] See also
- Euro-Mediterranean free trade area (EU-MEFTA)
- List of Free Trade Agreements
- List of Trade blocs
- economic integration
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