Posted on 03/12/2006 2:51:22 AM PST by PrinceOfCups
Dubai: Blocking of the DP World ports deal appears to have put the UAE-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations in jeopardy.
The scheduled fifth round of the FTA negotiations between the UAE and the US, which was to begin tomorrow in Abu Dhabi, has been postponed.
Although UAE government officials didn't comment on the delay, Ministry of Finance and Industry officials told Gulf News that the joint FTA process will continue. The US Trade Representative's team, due in the UAE yesterday, did not arrive. No alternative date for the talks has been set.
Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economy, declined to comment. "Nothing new happened on the stage, so I can't comment now," she told Gulf News yesterday. "We will wait to see what will happen in the next few days to collect more information."
Mohammad Sharaf, DP World chief executive, said his organisation has agreed to give up control of the six US ports to an American company. "We informed the American authorities that we will hand over the management of the ports to an American company if they guarantee that we will not bear any losses."
Experts say cancellation of the deal and politicisation of the issue will leave a deep scar in relations between the two countries. "US elections are throwing fuel on a fire that some are concerned will damage US-UAE trade relations," said an expert.
"FTA negotiations between the two sides will help to calm the recent situation," said Khalid Maniar, an investment advisor and managing partner of AGN MAK.
Might should have considered the possible repercussions before playing footsie with the Taliban, and interfering in the post-9/11 investigation?
How come when we play footsie with the Taliban or Hussian thats ok. How come the UAE gets bashed. Lets see the Worlld trade Center gets bombed we do nothing. American Service people die in Saudi Arabi and we do nothing really. Two American Embassies get bombed in Africa and people die and we hardly do nothing. The USS cole gets bombed and hardly no response. Now imagine if your The UAE. There seeing this going good gosh if our Hotels get bombed whats the USA going to do to help us. So even if the UAE was paying some insurance money pre 911 so their hotels and clubs(that by the way would prob have our Military in it) doesnt get bombed I cant much blame them. Its not like we were screaming Taliban over here alot before 9/11. O 9/12/01 most Americans were prob saying Tali- what.
Agreed. This war should have begun under the Clinton admin. Can't change that now. UAE is a military ally in time of war. Nothing more. Do you think we would (or should) have allowed the Soviets to manage our domestic terminal operations during WWII?
I'm sure if Americans had flown a plane into hotels in Dubai, and companies here had been involved in financing the attack, they'd feel the same way we do. I would understand completely.
"Its not like we were screaming Taliban over here alot before 9/11. O 9/12/01 most Americans were prob saying Tali- what."
The CIA and state departments were certainly taking the threat seriously. The connection between the Taliban and Al Qaeda was well-known before the attack. The fact that the UAE is currently playing footsie with Hamas shows they haven't learned a thing about the consequences of supporting terrorism.
They've reaped what they've sown.
You cant compare the Soviets of wwii and UAE in a comparison of similar attitudes of how they are allies. THe UAE despite whats is trying to become the new Gospel has been a friend since its inception. They were very friendly toward the British for most of their rule of the region. Thats why we are such a natural connection
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