FTA clears last hurdle with Shura go-ahead
Gulf Daily News, Bahrain
FTA clears last hurdle with Shura go-ahead
By Mohammed Al A’Ali
9 May 2006
MANAMA: Six laws that should allow Bahrain’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US to be activated cleared their final hurdle yesterday.
The laws have already approved by parliament in a single sitting on April 25, following an urgent request from the government.
The Shura Council yesterday also voted in favour of the laws, which will be now ratified by His Majesty King Hamad, before being announced in the Official Gazette.
Bahrain is planning to submit the new laws to the US Congress before June 15, so it can finalise the FTA before its summer break on July 1.
Negotiations concluded in 2004 and both countries have already ratified the agreement, but it can only be implemented once Bahrain upgrades certain legislation affecting bilateral trade.
The six laws relate to commercial secrets, country of manufacture distinction, production and distribution of CDs, trademarks, electronic dealings and innovations copyright.
They were reviewed by the council’s financial and economic committee, which made some minor wording changes, before passing the laws on for a vote on the open floor.
Committee chairman Jamal Fakhro urged councillors to speed through the legislation, so Bahrain could complete all requirements to activate the FTA.
