United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement

The U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement is a trade pact between Oman and the United States. On November 15, 2004, the George W. Bush administration notified the U.S. Congress of its intent to sign a trade agreement with the Middle Eastern Sultanate of Oman. On January 19, 2006 the two countries signed the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (OFTA), which is part of the Bush administration's strategy to create a Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) by 2013.

On June 29, 2006, the U.S. Senate passed OFTA by a vote of 60-34, [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-3569] the fewest "aye" votes in the Senate of any trade bill other than CAFTA. On July 20, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed OFTA by a vote of 221-205, with 7 abstentions. [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-5684] For procedural reasons, the Senate took a second vote on September 19, 2006, and the bill's implementing bill was passed 62-32, with 6 abstentions. [http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00250] In all, the Senate approved the bill 63-37, since all senators voted either "aye" or "nay" in one of the two votes.

George W. Bush signed the bill into law on September 26, 2006. [http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=908497]

Views in favor of OFTA

According to the U.S. Trade Representative's office and other proponents of the pact, OFTA is an important step towards reducing barriers to trade in goods and services in Oman.

* [http://ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Oman_FTA/Fact_Sheets/Section_Index.html USTR Site on OFTA]
* [http://www.ecattrade.com/issues/subsection.asp?id=47 Emergency Committee for American Trade Site on OFTA]
* [http://waysandmeans.house.gov/ResourceKits.asp?section=2340 House Ways and Means Committee's Republican Leadership's Site on OFTA]

Views opposed to OFTA

According to opponents of OFTA, the pact will worsen Oman's problems with human trafficking and forced labor, and will create new rights for companies like Dubai Ports World to take over U.S. port operations.

* [http://www.citizen.org/trade/oman/ Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch page on OFTA]
* [http://citizenstrade.org/oman.php Citizen's Trade Campaign Site on OFTA]
* [http://aflcio.org/issues/jobseconomy/globaleconomy/battle/oman.cfm AFL-CIO page on the Oman FTA]
* [http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/07/21/oh_man_oman.php Column by David Sirota for TomPaine.Com on Oman FTA]

Other References

* [http://www.mofa.gov.om Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
* [http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=detail&hearing=473 U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on Oman FTA]
* [http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing030606.htm U.S. Senate Finance Committee Hearing on Oman FTA]
* [http://www.opencrs.com/document/RL33328/ Congressional Research Service Study on OFTA]
* [http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/pubs/2104F/pub3837.pdf U.S. International Trade Commission Report on OFTA]
* [http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/ State Department Report on Human Trafficking in Oman]
* [http://rollcall.com/issues/52_8/news/14358-1.html Roll Call Story on News Conference with Reps. John Murtha (D-Pa.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) on port security implications of OFTA]
* [http://files.e2ma.net/6237/assets/docs/oman_and_port_security_cd_memo_1_.pdf Congressional Research Service Memo on OFTA and port security issues]
* [http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=4908 Jerusalem Post Story on OFTA and Oman's Observance of a Boycott of Israel]