- Negotiations
Late 2005, Oman finalised an FTA with the United States, as part of the US’ plan to reach an all encompassing Middle East Free Trade Agreement. It was signed in Washington on 19 January 2006. While the text is still going through the ratification processes, major US corporations are lining up to benefit including Halliburton, Bechtel, Microsoft and Dow Chemical.
The FTA was ratified in June 2006. Companies like Dow Chemical hailed the agreement as it would open doors for them to expand their petrochemical operations in the Sultanate.
The deal entered into force in January 2009 after being delayed supposedly because Oman was dragging its feet on changing domestic laws on telecommunications and software.
last update: May 2012
Photo: octal / CC BY 2.0
26-Jun-2006
Even as Congress has finally begun a serious debate about whether U.S. troops should be withdrawn from Iraq, another part of President Bush’s "war on terror" is advancing with far less public fanfare. Last month, the Senate Finance Committee approved the implementation of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement and cleared the way for its consideration by Congress.
8-Jun-2006
Indepedent Media Review Analysis
Five months after signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, Oman continues to restrict the import of Israeli-made goods despite a pledge made to the US that it would not boycott the Jewish state, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
9-May-2006
Reuters
Congressional Republicans announced plans on Monday to begin work on legislation to enact a US free trade deal with Oman, despite Democratic demands that the Gulf kingdom first provide stronger assurances it will bring its labor laws in line with international standards.
6-Apr-2006
UPI
Amidst rising anti-trade sentiment in Congress, House Republicans and Democrats wrangled over labor rights issues Wednesday demanding that a US free trade deal with the Omani government include stronger provisions to protect workers rights.
7-Mar-2006
The office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) yesterday signalled that a vote in Congress on the Oman-US Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) might be scheduled for late spring.
7-Mar-2006
The US Senate Finance Committee heard testimony from Mideast and business experts mostly in support of enhancing economic cooperation in a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United States and Oman, a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member-state.
21-Feb-2006
ITC
A February 2006 report from the US International Trade Commission
11-Feb-2006
Zawya
Notwithstanding the Democrats’ reservations over the existing labour laws in Oman, the United States is confident that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that it had signed on January 19 this year in Washington will sail through smoothly in the Congress in the next few months.
21-Jan-2006
Dawn
Pakistan and United States on Friday concluded the fourth round of talks on the proposed Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which remained inconclusive due to differences on some clauses of the agreement.
21-Jan-2006
IPS
The Bush administration is pushing a spate of free trade agreements with its allies in the Middle East that mostly lack input from marginalised local communities or civil society groups.
