Posted on 11/20/2004 2:33:18 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at freetrade.org ...
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?
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.
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