OAS

 
United States-Bahrain
Text of the agreement
  Background and Negotiations
   

On 9 May 2003 the United States outlined a strategy towards the establishment of a U.S.- Middle East free trade area, to be developed within a decade. One step towards this was to be the negotiation of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) with Middle Eastern countries.

The United States and Bahrain signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) on 18 June 2002, and on 4 August 2003 the United States Trade Representative notified the Congress of the President's intent to initiate a free trade agreement (FTA) with Bahrain. Negotiations began in January 2004 and concluded with an agreement on 27 May 2004. On 15 June 2004 the U.S. President notified Congress of his intent to enter into the US-Bahrain FTA. On 18 June 2004 draft texts of the agreement were made available to the public.

Documents relating to the negotiations
14 September 2004 United States and Bahrain Sign Free Trade AgreementPDF
15 June 2004 Notice of Intention to Enter Into a Free Trade Agreement with BahrainPDF
27 May 2004 Press Release: U.S. and Bahrain Conclude Free Trade AgreementPDF
26 January 2004 Press Release: United States and Bahrain to Launch Free Trade Negotiations January 26PDF
21 May 2003 U.S. and Bahrain Announce Intention to Negotiate a Free Trade AgreementPDF
04 October 2002 U.S. and Bahrain hold first TIFA Council meetingPDF
18 June 2002 Text of the U.S.-Bahrain Trade and Investment Framework AgreementPDF
Source: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)

  Draft Texts
   

On 18 June 2004, the USTR released the draft text of the U.S.-Bahrain FTA.

Draft texts of the Agreement
18 June 2004 Draft Texts of the U.S.-Bahrain FTA
Source: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)

  Entry into Force
   

The United States - Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (H.R. 4340) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on 7 December 2005 and by the U.S. Senate on 13 December 2005. It was signed by the President on 1 November 2006 and became Public Law 109-169. On 27 July 2006 the President of the United States issued a proclamation to implement the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement by 1 August 2006.

Documents relating to entry into force

27 July 2006 Proclamation To Implement the United States-Bahrain Free Trade AgreementPDF new!
July 2006 U.S. ITC. Modifications to the Harmonized Schedule of the United States to Implement the United States - Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (USITC Publication 3830)PDF
11 January 2006 An Act to Implement the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (Public Law 109-169)PDF
7 December 2005 United States - Bahrain FTA Implementation Act (H.R. 4340)PDF
Source: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR); Official White House website; United States International Trade Commission (USITC); U.S. Federal Register

  Related Articles and Studies
   
September 2005 U.S. Department of Labor. United States Employment Impact Review of the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade AgreementPDF
October 2004 USITC. U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement: Potential Economywide and Selected Sectoral EffectsPDF
October 2004 Bahraini Ministry of Finance. FTA Fact Sheet: Intellectual Property Rights
September 2004 USTR. Final Environmental Review of the U.S.-Bahrain FTAPDF
September 2004 Bahraini Ministry of Finance. FTA Fact Sheet: Trade in GoodsPDF
September 2004 Bahraini Ministry of Finance. FTA Fact Sheet: Electronic CommercePDF
September 2004 Bahraini Ministry of Finance, FTA Fact Sheet: EnvironmentPDF
September 2004 Bahraini Ministry of Finance. FTA Fact Sheet: Government ProcurementPDF
September 2004 Bahraini Ministry of Finance. FTA Fact Sheet: LaborPDF
September 2004 Bahraini Ministry of Finance. FTA Fact Sheet: Textiles and ApparelPDF
September 2004 Bahraini Ministry of Finance. FTA Fact Sheet: Cross Border Trade in ServicesPDF
September 2004 Bahraini Ministry of Finance. Overview: the Bahrain-United States Free Trade AgreementPDF
September 2004 USTR. U.S.-Bahrain FTA: Fact Sheet on Access to MedicinesPDF
July 2004 USDA Trade Support Team. Special Focus: SPS Issues and Free Trade AgreementsPDF
March 2004 USTR. Interim Environmental Review of the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade AgreementPDF

  Sources
   
 

Spanish version 
Recent Developments
  1 August 2006. U.S.-Bahrain FTA enters into forcenew!
  27 July 2006. U.S. Proclamation to Implement FTA by 1 August, 2006new!

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