The Senate on Monday approved a landmark US-Jordan free trade pact, which is seen as a significant economic boost for a key US ally and a model for Washington's future commerce deals with other nations.
The agreement, negotiated under former president Bill Clinton, was approved by voice vote, despite objections from several senators over some environmental and labor provisions, said AFP.
It had passed the lower House of Representatives in late July.
The deal eliminates all tariffs on two-way trade in goods and services over a 10-year period, an arrangement the United States currently has with only three other countries: Canada, Mexico and Israel.
President George W. Bush, who is expecting a visit by Jordan's King Abdullah later this week, welcomed the agreement as "a strong signal to Jordan as well as other countries in the region, that support for peace and economic reform yields concrete benefits," according to the agency.
The Jordanian monarch, who strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington earlier this month, is to arrive in Washington on Wednesday, and meet with Bush on Friday.
"I commend the Congress for advancing trade and relations with Jordan, a valued friend and partner. The US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement will promote peace and security in the region, while creating jobs and new investment opportunities in both countries," Bush said in a statement.
Senator Max Baucus, senior Democrat on the Senate finance committee, argued that passage of the deal would be an important boost for Jordan, as the United States mounts a war against terrorism following attacks on New York and the Pentagon two weeks ago, AFP said.
"Getting the United States-Jordan agreement off the ground would be essential even if we were not currently mobilizing support for a global campaign against terrorism," he said.
"The agreement represents an important expression of American support for a key partner in the Middle East as well as a model for a progressive free trade agreement."
The FTA inked by the US and Jordan last October has attracted attention because for the first time, such an agreement includes provisions on protecting labor rights and upholding environmental standards.
In order to address the concerns raised during the debate, Jordan and the US have exchanged letters pledging not to use sanctions to enforce labor and environmental provisions, news agencies reported earlier this year.
Despite their differences, the two countries reached a compromise after long talks in June, and after an exchange of letters - Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
