United States free trade agreements

The United States is party to many free trade agreements (FTAs) worldwide.

History

Similar to other industrial nations, the United States has a long history of opposition to free trade. Protectionism and isolationism were prevailing economic traditions for much of the 19th century.

Opposition to free trade in the United States can be traced back to Washington's Farewell Address, in which he advised the young nation to avoid "entangling alliances." This was meant to prevent America from developing permanent friends or enemies abroad. Due to the nation's military weakness after its birth, many people, especially the Jeffersonians held the belief that America must turn inward and avoid possible future conflicts with more powerful European nations.

During the 19th Century, the United States benefited from the Congress of Vienna, which created a relatively conflict-free century. At this time, America was left alone to solve its internal problems such as the US Civil War, enlarge the territory, and industrialize. By the late 1890s, America emerged as an important power on the Western Hemisphere, if not in the world.

Beginning with the Theodore Roosevelt administration, the United States became a major player in international trade, especially with its neighboring territories in the Caribbean and Latin America. This was followed by World War I, in which the United States played the decisive role in determining the outcome of the war. President Wilson proposed the League of Nations, and he convinced many countries to join, save his own.

Past free trade agreements

*: Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement (1988; superseded by the NAFTA)

Free trade agreements in force

Here is a list of free trade agreements of which the United States is part. In parentheses, the abbreviation, if applicable, membership if not stated before, and the date of coming into force are to be seen.
*: US-Israel Free Trade Agreement (incl. Palestinian Authority; 1985)
* (NAFTA) (incl. Canada and Mexico; 1994)
*: US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement (2001)
*: Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (2004)
*: United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement (2004)
*: US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (2004)
*: United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (2006)
*: United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (2006)
*: US-Oman Free Trade Agreement (2006)
*: United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (2007)
* (DR-CAFTA; incl. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic; 2008)

Free trade agreements waiting approval

*: Panama - United States Trade Promotion Agreement (2008?)
*: Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (2008?)
*: U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (2008?)

Proposed free trade agreements

The United States is negotiating bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements with the following countries and blocs:
* Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA; incl. all countries on the Western Hemisphere)
* Middle East Free Trade Area (US-MEFTA; incl. most countries in the Middle East)
* )
*: United States-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (on hold since the 2006 Thai coup d'état)
*: US-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement [ [http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Trade-and-Economic-Relations/Trade-Agreements/Trans-Pacific/index.php Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement between Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore - P4 ] ]
*: US-Ghana Free Trade Agreement
*: US-Indonesia Free Trade Agreement
*: US-Kenya Free Trade Agreement
*: US-Kuwait Free Trade Agreement (Expert-level trade talks held in February 2006)
*: US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (next meeting on January 14, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur)
*: US-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement
*: US-Mozambique Free Trade Agreement
*: US-United Arab Emirates Free Trade Agreement (5th round of talks are yet to be scheduled)
*US-Southern African Customs Union Free Trade Agreement (US-SAUC; incl. ZAF, BWA, LSO, SWZ, and NAM; on hold since 2006 due to US demands on intellectual property rights, government procurement rights and investment)
*: US-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement
*: US-Qatar Free Trade Agreement (on hold since 2006)

ee also

* List of free trade agreements
* New Zealand free trade agreements

References