Oman–United States Free Trade Agreement
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 Eastern 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,[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] And on December 29, 2008 signed the proclamation to implement the agreement with effective date of January 1, 2009.[5]
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
See more[]
- Rules of Origin
- Market access
- Free-trade area
- Tariffs
References[]
- ^ 109th Congress (2006) (June 26, 2006). "S. 3569 (109th)". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
- ^ 109th Congress (2006) (June 26, 2006). "H.R. 5684 (109th)". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
- ^ Senate roll call vote Archived September 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kuwait News Agency story Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Presidential Proclamation of December 29, 2008
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[permanent dead link]
- 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
- Economy of Oman
- Free trade agreements of the United States
- Treaties of Oman
- Treaties concluded in 2006
- Treaties entered into force in 2009
- Oman–United States relations