once Bush gives UAE MFN status, they'll be just like China.
See http://hill.beef.org/newview.asp?DocumentID=14671 (U.S. BEGINS FTA NEGOTIATIONS WITH UAE AND OMAN), http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Regional/MEFTA/Section_Index.html (USTR - Middle East Free Trade Area Initiative) and various other publications.
UAE, US FTA talks continueUnited Arab Emirates: Tuesday, January 31 - 2006 at 06:27
Free trade agreement talks between the UAE and US resumed in London yesterday. The fourth round of talks will focus on customs agreements, intellectual property, textiles and government purchases. Agreement had previously been reached on the environment, agriculture and labour.
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=123756
UAE debate on benefits of FTA rekindled
Natasha Bukhari
Middle East Times
February 14, 2006DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- After almost two years, negotiations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States over a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are nearing an end, with the two sides expected to close a deal within a few months. But the debate over the effect of the agreement on the UAE's economy has recently been reignited.
http://metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060214-021441-2191r
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20508USTR PRESS RELEASES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE USTR WEBSITE AT WWW.USTR.GOV.
For Immediate Release: Contact: Richard Mills / Neena Moorjani
March 15, 2004 (202) 395-3230United States and United Arab Emirates Sign Trade and Investment Framework Agreement WASHINGTON - U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State for Finance and Industry Mohammed Khalfan bin Khirbash today signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), providing a forum for the UAE and the United States to examine ways to expand bilateral trade and investment.
"Today's signing is an important step in promoting America's export opportunities in the UAE, a top 30 U.S. export market," said Zoellick. "At the same time, increased trade and economic engagement with the United States can assist the UAE in its ongoing efforts to liberalize and diversify its economy. This agreement solidifies the relationship between our two countries on an economic level which complements our strong partnership in our fight against terrorism."
"Expansion of trade with the United Arab Emirates is part of our efforts to promote democracy and economic vitality in the Middle East and the Gulf Region," added Zoellick.
"In May 2003, the President proposed a Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) by 2013; this month's FTA with Morocco and the completion of the second round of FTA negotiations with Bahrain puts us in good standing to achieve that goal."
The TIFA creates a Joint Council that will consider a wide range of commercial issues and sets out basic principles underlying the two nations' trade and investment relationship.
The council will establish a permanent dialogue with the expectation of expanding trade and investment between the United States and the UAE with the goal of resolving trade issues and deepening the bilateral trade relationship. The United States uses TIFA's to strengthen bilateral trade and support economic reform through regular senior-level discussions on commercial and economic issues.
In 2003, the United States exported $3.5 billion worth of goods to the United Arab Emirates, including machinery, aircraft, vehicles, optical and medical instruments, live animals and tree nuts. The United States imported $1.1 billion worth of goods from the United Arab Emirates in the same year, including mineral fuel, woven and knit apparel.
Background
A Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the United Arab Emirates is just one of the many ways the United States is moving forward to strengthen trade relationships bilaterally. In 2001, the U.S. FTA with Jordan was approved, and FTA's with Singapore and Chile went into effect January 1, 2004. In recent months, the U.S. completed free trade agreements with five Central American countries and with Australia. New and pending FTA's, taken together, constitute America's third largest export market and the sixth largest in the world. ...