Bahrain FTA

Statement by Ambassador Michael Punke at the WTO Trade Policy Review of Bahrain and Oman

World Trade Organization
Geneva, Switzerland
April 22-24, 2014

*As Delivered*

05/07/2013

MANAMA, Bahrain – Today, the United States and Bahrain convened a meeting of the Subcommittee on Labor Affairs created under the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (agreement). Representatives at the meeting reaffirmed their commitments under the agreement to recognize and protect the rights stated in the International Labor Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

Advisory Group Reports on U.S.-Bahrain FTA

Bahrain is currently our 87th largest goods trading partner with $1.7 billion in total (two way) goods trade during 2013. Goods exports totaled $1.0 billion; Goods imports totaled $635 million. The U.S. goods trade surplus with Bahrain was $383 million in 2013.

Exports

(Excerpted)USTR ZOELLICK:
Thank you very much congressmen and I appreciate all of you joining us here
today. 

Under global trade rules and U.S. bilateral trade agreements, countries have access to medicines in their fight against HIV-AIDS and other epidemics.