Katana VentraIP

Oman–United States Free Trade Agreement

The U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement is a trade pact between Oman and the United States. On November 15, 2004, the George W. Bush administration notified the U.S. Congress of its intent to sign a trade agreement with the Middle Eastern Sultanate of Oman. On January 19, 2006 the two countries signed the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (OFTA), which is part of the Bush administration's strategy to create a US - Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) by 2013.

  • United States–Oman Free Trade Agreement (OFTA) (American English)
  • اتفاقية التجارة الحرة بين الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وسلطنة عمان (Arabic)

19 January 2006

19 January 2006

1 January 2009

2 months after notification of each state that all internal procedures have been completed

To implement the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement.

Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 109–283 (text) (PDF)

On June 29, 2006, the U.S. Senate passed OFTA by a vote of 60-34,[1] the fewest "aye" votes in the Senate of any trade bill other than CAFTA. On July 20, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed OFTA by a vote of 221-205, with 7 abstentions.[2] For procedural reasons, the Senate took a second vote on September 19, 2006, and the bill's implementing bill was passed 62-32, with 6 abstentions.[3] In all, the Senate approved the bill 63-37, since all senators voted either "aye" or "nay" in one of the two votes.


George W. Bush signed the bill into law on September 26, 2006.[4] And on December 29, 2008 signed the proclamation to implement the agreement with effective date of January 1, 2009.[5]

USTR Site on OFTA

Emergency Committee for American Trade Site on OFTA

House Ways and Means Committee's Republican Leadership's Site on OFTA

According to the U.S. Trade Representative's office and other proponents of the pact, OFTA is an important step towards reducing barriers to trade in goods and services in Oman.

Rules of Origin

Market access

Free-trade area

Tariffs

U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on Oman FTA

U.S. Senate Finance Committee Hearing on Oman FTA

Congressional Research Service Study on OFTA

U.S. International Trade Commission Report on OFTA

State Department Report on Human Trafficking in Oman

Roll Call Story on News Conference with Reps. John Murtha (D-Pa.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) on port security implications of OFTA

Congressional Research Service Memo on OFTA and port security issues

Testimony on OFTA of David Hamod, National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce

Jerusalem Post Story on OFTA and Oman's Observance of a Boycott of Israel