The Trade Front Combating Terrorism with Open Markets

Freetrade.org ^ | Nov 20 | Brink Lindsey

[everitt12]

In May 2003 President Bush announced plans to create a U.S.-Middle East free-trade area within a decade. The new trade initiative aims to combat terrorism, and the Islamist extremism that underlies it, by promoting economic and political development in the Muslim world. The administration moved quickly to begin putting its plans into action by announcing that the United States and Bahrain would soon commence negotiations for a free-trade agreement (FTA). Meanwhile, negotiations for an FTA with Morocco are already under way, and a U.S.-Jordan FTA, now in its second year, has produced a boom in Jordanian exports.

The Bush administration should be congratulated for opening a trade front in the war on terrorism. With the proper commitment and follow-through, a major U.S. trade initiative in the Muslim world can give real encouragement to desperately needed growth and reform in that troubled region.

[expat_panama]

Aw sure, it may end problems in the middle east by shifting power from the religious to the market classes.  But we have to decide if that's really more important loosing any chance of a level playing field while those sneaky Arabs dump excess oil on US markets below cost putting American oil workers on welfare.  

Is there anyone who really thinks that 35 cent gas and having the Arabs suck up to us is worth outsourcing even one roughneck job?

[Stratman]

This needs to move to the front burner and get massive attention. Free trade develops the middle class, who eventually move to legally enshrine their property. Although this process takes a long time (at least a generation), it creates a solid internal move for democracy and trade.