US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement
Encyclopedia
The United States-Jordan Free Trade Agreement was signed on October 24, 2000. It was ratified by the United States House of Representatives
on July 31, 2001 by voice vote
, and by voice vote in the United States Senate
on December 7, 2001. President George W. Bush
signed the United States-Jordan
Free Trade Area Implementation Act into law on September 28, 2001. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010928-1.html It was implemented by both countries on December 17, 2001.
and the pact's passage by voice vote. As with other trade agreements, proponents pointed to the reduction of customs duties and other barriers to trade as a boon to exports.
) released a series of reports that showed a proliferation of sweatshop
conditions in Jordan's export
zones. Many members of the United States Congress
reacted with concern, since the Jordan FTA was considered to have particularly strong labor rights
provisions.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
on July 31, 2001 by voice vote
Voice vote
A voice vote is a voting method used by deliberative assemblies in which a vote is taken on a topic or motion by responding verbally....
, and by voice vote in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on December 7, 2001. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
signed the United States-Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
Free Trade Area Implementation Act into law on September 28, 2001. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010928-1.html It was implemented by both countries on December 17, 2001.
Views in favor of the Jordan FTA
Unlike many trade agreements, the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement had widespread, bipartisan and multi-sectoral support, as evidenced by the support of the AFL-CIOAFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
and the pact's passage by voice vote. As with other trade agreements, proponents pointed to the reduction of customs duties and other barriers to trade as a boon to exports.
Labor rights issues under the Jordan FTA
In 2006, the National Labor Committee (a U.S.-based non-governmental organizationNon-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
) released a series of reports that showed a proliferation of sweatshop
Sweatshop
Sweatshop is a negatively connoted term for any working environment considered to be unacceptably difficult or dangerous. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labour laws may be violated. Sweatshops may have...
conditions in Jordan's export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
zones. Many members of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
reacted with concern, since the Jordan FTA was considered to have particularly strong labor rights
Labor rights
Labor rights or workers' rights are a group of legal rights and claimed human rights having to do with labor relations between workers and their employers, usually obtained under labor and employment law. In general, these rights' debates have to do with negotiating workers' pay, benefits, and safe...
provisions.