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  1. Negotiations

Jordan


The Hachemite Kingdom of Jordan signed a major free trade agreement with the United States in 2000, a strategic deal for the US. One of the most well documented impacts of that accord, however, has been the [bad labour conditions->4611] suffered by migrant workers working in US factories there.

While the Jordanian government has tried to clean up its image in response to the criticisms from labour and human rights groups, it has also been sealing deals with other nations. It has free trade agreements with the EU, as part of the Barcelona proces, EFTA, Palestine and Syria. In 2004, it signed an FTA with Singapore and in 2008 with Canada (which has still to be ratified). In 2010 it signed a four-way deal with Syria, Turkey and Lebanon.

The government is currently negotiating with Iraq, Kazakhstan and Pakistan, and pushing for FTAs with Mercosur and Russia. Jordan is also member of the Agadir Agreement and GAFTA.

last update: May 2012
photo: DFID/CC BY 2.0

See also
Jordan, Kazakhstan to consider opening free trade talks
25-Jul-2007     MENAFN
Jordan and Kazakhstan will consider starting talks on a free trade agreement when the joint technical committee from both countries holds two days of meetings starting Thursday.
Iraq, Jordan to sign free-trade agreement
3-Jun-2007     Azzaman
Iraq and Jordan are in talks for a free-trade agreement to boost commercial ties between the countries.
Deliberations continuing with EU, Canada, Turkey on free trade, QIZs - Jordan
22-Apr-2007     MENAFN
Several agreements are in the pipeline to accelerate Jordan's free trade drive and maximise the advantages of Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs), Industry and Trade Minister Salem Khazaaleh said on Saturday.
USA: Labor & textile groups demand punitive measures against Jordan
25-Sep-2006     Fibre2Fashion
The US Trade Representative has been urged by the largest US labor organization and textile group to file a complaint against Jordan for its failure to check companies from exploiting their laborers and subsequently cheating them on wages. Since the US-Jordan FTA was signed between the two nations in December 2001, this is the first time any US business group has come together with labor demanding action under the treaty.
Jordan expected to sign free trade agreement with Iraq
18-Sep-2006     MENAFN
Jordan and Iraq are in the final stages of discussions over the signing of a free trade agreement.
Jordan, Turkey conclude fourth round of talks on free trade agreement
20-Jul-2006     Petra
Jordan and Turkey on Wednesday concluded the fourth round of talks on free trade agreement.
Analysis: US-Jordan FTA underbelly
30-Jun-2006    
The US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement is not meeting its full potential and worker rights in Jordan continue to be violated as a result, say experts from both nations.
Before rushing to sign - Jordan
26-Jun-2006    
Relations among countries are normally defined by bilateral or multilateral agreements, especially when it comes to trade under reciprocal facilitation. The purpose, of course, is to maximise benefits. In order for such agreements to be sound and sustainable, they must be balanced and serve the best interests of both sides, otherwise the party at disadvantage will find a way to obstruct the implementation of the agreement and finally yield to pressure and revoke the agreement altogether.
Project to promote the Jordanian-US free trade agreement
14-Jun-2006    
President of Jordan Exporters Association Ayman Hatahet said a US company will implement, in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Jordanian Embassy in Washington, a project to promote the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between Jordan and the US.
Jordan hopes to sign free trade agreement with Russia
19-Aug-2005     MENAFN
His Majesty King Abdullah will meet today with Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on ways to develop bilateral ties, particularly in the economic fields.