View source for U.S.–Middle East Free Trade Area

{{Short description|Bush-era tariff agreement proposal}}
{{update|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Trade sidebar}}
The '''U.S.–MEFTA''' initiative started in 2003 with the purpose of creating a U.S.–Middle East [[Free Trade Area]] by 2013.

The U.S. objective with this initiative has been to gradually increase trade and investment in the [[Middle East]], and to assist the Middle East countries in implementing domestic reforms, instituting the rule of law, protecting [[property rights (economics)|private property rights]] (including intellectual property), and creating a foundation for openness, economic growth, and prosperity.

Among the stated objectives are:

[[File:MEFTA 15112004.png|thumb|Screenshot from official US–MEFTA website, 15-11-2004]]

*Actively supporting [[WTO]] membership of countries in the [[Middle East]] and Maghreb
*Expanding the [[Generalized System of Preferences]] that currently provides duty-free entry to the U.S. market for some 3,500 products from 140 developing economies
*Negotiating [[Trade and Investment Framework Agreement]]s that establish a framework for expanding trade and resolving outstanding disputes
*Negotiating [[bilateral investment treaty|bilateral investment treaties]] with interested countries by obligating governments to treat foreign investors fairly and offering legal protection equal to domestic investors
*Negotiating comprehensive [[free trade agreement]]s with willing countries that demonstrate a commitment to economic openness and reform
*Helping to target more than $1 billion of annual U.S. funding and spur partnerships with private organizations and businesses that support trade and development

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:smaller; text-align:center; float:right; clear:right; margin-left:1em"
|+ U.S.–Middle East Free Trade Efforts
|-
! Country
! FTA
! TIFA
! BIT
! WTO
! GSP
|-
! Israel
| {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|
|-
! Jordan
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|-
! Morocco
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|-
! Bahrain
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|-
! Egypt
|
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|-
! Lebanon
|
|
|
| Negotiating<br>Accession
|  {{ya}}
|-
! Algeria
|
|  {{ya}}
|
| Negotiating<br>Accession
|  {{ya}}
|-
! Tunisia
|
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|-
! Saudi Arabia
|
|  {{ya}}
|
|  {{ya}}
| Not Eligible
|-
! Oman
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|
|  {{ya}}
|  {{ya}}
|-
! Kuwait
|
|  {{ya}}
|
|  {{ya}}
| Not Eligible
|-
! UAE
| Announced
|  {{ya}}
|
|  {{ya}}
| Not Eligible
|-
! Yemen
|
|  {{ya}}
|
| Negotiating<br>Accession
|  {{ya}}
|-
! Qatar
|
|  {{ya}}
|
|  {{ya}}
| Not Eligible
|-
! Syria
|
|
|
|
| Not Eligible
|-
! Iraq
|
|  {{ya}}
|
| Observer Status
| Not Eligible
|-
! Libya
|
|
|
| Negotiating<br>Accession
| Not Eligible
|-
! Iran
|
|
|
|
| Not Eligible
|-
| colspan=6 | Note: The Palestinian Authority participates in the U.S.–Israel FTA.
|}

==Active agreements==

===US agreements===
The United States currently has several bilateral free trade agreements with nations in the region.
*{{BHR}} [[Bahrain–United States Free Trade Agreement]]
*{{JOR}} [[Jordan–United States Free Trade Agreement]]
*{{MAR}} [[Morocco–United States Free Trade Agreement]]
*{{OMA}} [[Oman–United States Free Trade Agreement]]
*{{ISR}} [[Israel-United States Free Trade Agreement]]

===Middle Eastern agreements===
Additionally many potential MEFTA states are already members of the multilateral [[Council of Arab Economic Unity#Greater Arab Free Trade Area|Greater Arab Free Trade Area]].

*{{ALG}}
*{{BHR}}
*{{EGY}}
*{{IRQ}}
*{{JOR}}
*{{KUW}}
*{{LBN}}
*{{LBY}}
*{{MAR}}
*{{OMA}}
*{{PLE}}
*{{QAT}}
*{{SAU}}
*{{SUD}}
*{{SYR}}
*{{TUN}}
*{{UAE}}
*{{YEM}}

Other states are members of the multilateral [[Arab Maghreb Union]].
*{{DZA}}
*{{LBA}}
*{{MTN}}
*{{MAR}}
*{{TUN}}

The following, expected to constitute MEFTA,<ref>Staff, "[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18446067_ITM Middle East Free Trade Area: Progress Report]", [[Congressional Research Service]], 1 June 2006</ref> are not members of existing Middle Eastern agreements:
*{{CYP}}
*{{IRN}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Business and economics}}
* [[Greater Middle East]]
* [[Middle East Partnership Initiative]] 
* [[Lists of free trade agreements]]
* [[List of trade blocs]]
* [[Middle East economic integration]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Regional/MEFTA/Section_Index.html Official site]
*[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040609-37.html White House Press Release – 9 June 2004]
*[https://fpc.state.gov/fpc/45701.htm U.S. Briefing at Department of State – 6 May 2005]
*[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/10/20051017-9.html White House Press Release – 17 October 2005]

{{Free trade agreements of the United States|state=uncollapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Area}}
[[Category:Proposed free trade agreements]]
[[Category:Free trade agreements of the United States|MEFTA]]