WASHINGTON - U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick and
Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Al Taweel today signed an agreement
creating a framework for increased trade and investment between Kuwait and the United
States.
"This agreement will promote trade between Kuwait and the United
States and is part of our effort to facilitate economic development in the region," said
Zoellick. "Increased trade will help Kuwait grow while laying the foundation for a greater
liberalization and diversification of its economy. Kuwait has been a strong supporter of the United States
in the fight against terrorism, and I look forward to exploring ways to deepen our
economic relationship."
The new Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA)
establishes a United States-Kuwait Council on Trade and Investment in which high level
officials from each country will meet to advance trade and investment issues. The Council will be
chaired by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Kuwait Ministry of Commerce and
Industry.
In 2002, the United States exported $1 billion worth of goods to
Kuwait, including iron and steel, chemicals, drilling and oilfield equipment, aircraft, and
food products. The United States imported $2 billion in goods from Kuwait that year, including
crude oil, petroleum products, and chemical fertilizer.
Background:
U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Area
To re-ignite economic growth and expand opportunity in the Middle
East, the President proposed on May 9, 2003 establishing a U.S.-Middle East Free Trade
Area within a decade.
Building on our free trade agreements (FTAs) with Jordan and
Israel, the United States will take a series of graduated steps:
- Help reforming countries become members of the World Trade
Organization;
- Negotiate Bilateral Investment Treaties and Trade and Investment
Framework Agreements (TIFA) with governments determined to improve their
trade and investment regimes;
- Launch, in consultation with Congress, new bilateral free trade
agreements with governments committed to high standards and comprehensive trade
liberalization; and
- Provide assistance to build trade capacity and expansion so
countries can benefit from integration into the global trading system.
The United States has used bilateral TIFAs to develop economic
dialogues with countries to promote closer economic ties, freer trade, greater openness, a
stronger investment climate, and economic reforms. These robust dialogues have fostered market
liberalization and economic reforms and the negotiation of free trade agreements with U.S.
partners such as Bahrain, Jordan, and Morocco. The U.S.-Kuwait TIFA will serve as an
essential element in implementing the MEFTA initiative.
U.S. Efforts to Promote Trade Globally, Regionally and
Bilaterally
The U.S. trade agenda involves working to open markets globally
(Doha WTO trade negotiations); regionally (the FTAA); and bilaterally (such as the
recently concluded CAFTA). With only six current FTA partners (not counting CAFTA, which
still must be enacted), FTAs with the U.S. are relatively rare and attractive to countries
seeking to expand their economies. FTAs with the U.S. can boost economic growth by promoting the rule
of law, regulatory transparency and other positive reforms that attract investment
and help create efficient and more modern economies.
These policy initiatives have had a transforming impact on those
countries that embraced market opening and liberalizing reforms. Free trade with the United
States has led to Jordan’s exports to the United States growing from $16 million in 1998 to a
projected $600 million in 2003. Of this increase, in only two years Jordan’s non-textile exports to
the United States have risen to $100 million B this diversification of exports is a key FTA
benefit. Jordan’s exports to the rest of the world increased 97 percent between 1998 and 2002 (from $1.2
billion to $2.3 billion), outpacing the 68 percent growth for the Middle East as a
whole.
The Jordanian Government reports that more than 30,000 jobs have
been created by Jordan’s expanding trade with the United States, and that foreign direct
investment in Jordan rose from $627 million in 1995 to $2.4 billion, or 26% of gross domestic
product, in 2002. Jordan directly attributes its increased economic performance and
competitiveness to the steps it has taken in the WTO and its free trade relationship with the United
States.
