Middle East Economic Survey

VOL. XLVII

No 47

22-November-2004

TRADE AND COMMERCE

US To Start Free Trade Talks With Oman And UAE In 2005

The US will start free trade negotiations with Oman and the UAE at the beginning of 2005. Trade between the US and the two countries amounted to $5.6bn in 2003, and the signing of free trade agreements with the two oil producers would support economic reforms in the Gulf region as well as increase export opportunities for the US companies.