WASHINGTON – The United States and Jordan held the 9th meeting of the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Joint Committee on May 4, 2023. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jayme White, and Secretary General Dana Al Zoubi, Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply.
During the meeting, the United States and Jordan discussed a range of bilateral trade and investment issues to promote greater reciprocal exchanges of agricultural and industrial goods and services. They focused on issues of common interest that will yield benefits for middle income families and workers. Both governments agreed to:
• Support the findings of the FTA Labor Subcommittee that met in November 2022. The United States and Jordan focused discussion on concerns relating to the garment industry, agriculture, and child labor. As an outcome of that work, officials committed to work together to develop a roadmap to increase respect for freedom of association and elevate worker voice in Jordan.
• Establish the FTA Subcommittee on Environmental Affairs to share respective efforts to improve levels of environmental protection and implement the shared environment commitments in the U.S.-Jordan FTA, and foster dialogue on pressing trade and environment matters, including climate change and circular economy approaches.
• Remedy outstanding agricultural trade concerns, including import licensing issues affecting U.S. exports of poultry and apples, and import sampling issues affecting U.S. corn exports to Jordan, while continuing talks on U.S. exports of live cattle. Jordan committed to remove its tariff on fertilized eggs from the United States as called for in the U.S.-Jordan FTA.
Officials also discussed the current food security situation in Jordan and various means of strengthening it, including through greater market access. In addition, the United States expressed a willingness to explore further technical assistance in Jordan with the aim of promoting enhanced trade in the services sector.
Both governments agreed to strive to make additional progress in advance of the next Joint Committee meeting, to be held in Amman in 2024.
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