Benjamin Gilman: “the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement with the United States is good for Jordan, good for the United States and good for…”

“the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement with the United States is good for Jordan, good for the United States and good for peace in the Middle East. By eliminating trade barriers between both our countries, it will increase trade. In doing so, it will strengthen one of the most constructive regimes in the Middle East regarding the Peace Process. Under King Abdullah's leadership, Jordan has already made significant strides in modernizing its economy and in opening its markets to the outside world. For example, Jordan has embarked on a major privatization program that includes its telecommunications sector, and has improved its record on intellectual property rights. This agreement will accelerate that process by guaranteeing: The elimination of all tariffs on industrial goods and farm products within 10 years; Free trade in services, giving American service providers full access to services of key importance; Modern intellectual property rights commitments, which will provide prospects for technology-based industries, copyright-based industries, and pharmaceutical companies; A joint commitment to promote a liberalized trade environment for e- commerce that should encourage investment in new technologies, and avoid imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions. Just as Jordan has been a model for constructive participation in the Peace Process, the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement can help to make it an economic model for the rest of the Arab world.”