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Skriven 2005-11-17 23:33:06 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0511173) for Thu, 2005 Nov 17
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Message to the Congress of the United States
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 17, 2005

Message to the Congress of the United States



TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

I am pleased to transmit legislation and supporting documents to implement
the United States Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (the "Agreement"). This
Agreement enhances our bilateral relationship with a strategic friend and
ally in the Middle East region and will promote economic growth and
prosperity in both nations.

In negotiating this Agreement, my Administration was guided by the
objectives set out in the Trade Act of 2002. The Agreement reflects my
Administration's commitment to opening markets and expanding opportunities
for American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses. The Agreement will
open Bahrain's market for U.S. manufactured goods, agricultural products,
and services. As soon as it enters into force, the Agreement will eliminate
tariffs on all manufactured goods that the United States sells to Bahrain
and immediately remove Bahrain's import duties on over 80 percent of U.S.
agricultural products. The Agreement is also one of the most comprehensive
ever negotiated to reduce barriers to trade in services and will create new
opportunities for U.S. services firms.

The Agreement contains procedures that will facilitate cooperation between
the United States and Bahrain on environmental and labor matters. The labor
chapter of the Agreement reinforces Bahrain's recent legislative actions to
expand democracy and improve the protection of worker rights, including
trade union rights. Provisions in the Agreement requiring effective enforce
ment of environmental laws will contribute to high levels of environmental
protection.

The approval of this Agreement will be another significant step towards
creating a Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013. This Agreement offers the
United States yet another opportunity to encourage economic reform in a
moderate Muslim nation as we have done through our free trade agreements
with Jordan and Morocco. Leaders in Bahrain are supporting the pursuit of
social and economic reforms in the region, encouraging foreign investment
connected to broad-based development, and providing better protection for
women and workers. It is strongly in our national interest to embrace and
encourage these reforms, and passing this legislation is a crucial step
toward that end.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

November 17, 2005.

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