US-Oman Free Trade Agreement
Encyclopedia
The U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement is a trade pact between Oman and the United States. On November 15, 2004, the George W. Bush administration
notified the U.S. Congress of its intent to sign a trade agreement with the Middle East
ern Sultanate of Oman
. On January 19, 2006 the two countries signed the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (OFTA), which is part of the Bush administration
's strategy to create a US - Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) by 2013.
On June 29, 2006, the U.S. Senate passed OFTA by a vote of 60-34,http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-3569 the fewest "aye" votes in the Senate of any trade bill other than CAFTA. On July 20, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed OFTA by a vote of 221-205, with 7 abstentions.http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-5684 For procedural reasons, the Senate took a second vote on September 19, 2006, and the bill's implementing bill was passed 62-32, with 6 abstentions.http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00250 In all, the Senate approved the bill 63-37, since all senators voted either "aye" or "nay" in one of the two votes.
George W. Bush
signed the bill into law on September 26, 2006.http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=908497
And on December 29, 2008 signed the proclamation to implement the agreement with effective date of January 1, 2009.
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
notified the U.S. Congress of its intent to sign a trade agreement with the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern Sultanate of Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
. On January 19, 2006 the two countries signed the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (OFTA), which is part of the Bush administration
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
's strategy to create a US - Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) by 2013.
On June 29, 2006, the U.S. Senate passed OFTA by a vote of 60-34,http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-3569 the fewest "aye" votes in the Senate of any trade bill other than CAFTA. On July 20, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed OFTA by a vote of 221-205, with 7 abstentions.http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-5684 For procedural reasons, the Senate took a second vote on September 19, 2006, and the bill's implementing bill was passed 62-32, with 6 abstentions.http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00250 In all, the Senate approved the bill 63-37, since all senators voted either "aye" or "nay" in one of the two votes.
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 bill into law on September 26, 2006.http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=908497
And on December 29, 2008 signed the proclamation to implement the agreement with effective date of January 1, 2009.
Views in favor of OFTA
According to the U.S. Trade Representative's office and other proponents of the pact, OFTA is an important step towards reducing barriers to trade in goods and services in Oman.- USTR Site on OFTA
- Emergency Committee for American Trade Site on OFTA
- House Ways and Means Committee's Republican Leadership's Site on OFTA
External links
- U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on Oman FTA
- U.S. Senate Finance Committee Hearing on Oman FTA
- Congressional Research Service Study on OFTA
- U.S. International Trade Commission Report on OFTA
- State Department Report on Human Trafficking in Oman
- Roll Call Story on News Conference with Reps. John Murtha (D-Pa.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) on port security implications of OFTA
- Congressional Research Service Memo on OFTA and port security issues
- Testimony on OFTA of David Hamod, National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce
- Jerusalem Post Story on OFTA and Oman's Observance of a Boycott of Israel