- Negotiations
In May 2004, after just four months of talks, US and Bahraini trade negotiators concluded a free trade agreement between the two countries. The agreement was signed by US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and Bahrain’s Minister of Finance and National Economy, Abdulla Hassan Saif, in September 2004.
Ratification and entry into force was to come after Bahrain assured Washington that it "no longer supports a boycott of Israeli goods".
The FTA came into force on 1 August 2006. Two years later, the government claimed that the best impacts of the FTA were boosting Bahrain’s image in the US and speeding up domestic policy changes at home, while critics pointed to the country’s rapidly deteriorating trade surplus with the US. The AFL-CIO has called on the US Administration to withdraw from the agreement over human rights concerns and the mass dismissals of many public sector workers.
last update: May 2012
Photo: Illegally fired public-sector employees protest in Bahrain (Solidarity Center / CC BY-ND 2.0)
23-Sep-2004
The signing of Bahrain-US free trade agreement (FTA) will offer numerous opportunities to the businessmen of Thailand to reach the huge US market by using Bahrain as a base in the region, the Minister of Commerce, Ali Saleh Al Saleh said yesterday, writes Mehmood Rafique.
23-Sep-2004
Finance and National Economy Minister Abdulla Saif hosted a luncheon reception at the New York Palace Hotel yesterday, to celebrate the historic signing of the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (USBFTA).
22-Sep-2004
The Bush administration is unlikely to push for congressional approval of a U.S.-Bahrain free trade agreement this year due to lawmaker concerns.
20-Sep-2004
THE joint committee of the Capital Governorate and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry will meet next week to outline programmes for new business ventures following the formalisation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bahrain and the USA.
14-Sep-2004
The Coalition of Service Industries (CSI) today welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
14-Sep-2004
U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick and Minister of Finance and National Economy Abdulla Hassan Saif today signed the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, a comprehensive agreement that will not only remove trade barriers and expand regional opportunities for the peoples of both countries, but will also promote liberty and opportunity in the Middle East, according to a USTR news release.
13-Sep-2004
Finance and National Economy Minister Abdulla Saif left for Washington DC, US, yesterday to sign a Free Trade Agreement between Bahrain and the US tomorrow. Signing on behalf of the US will be Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Zoellick.
9-Sep-2004
Bahrain is finalising preparations for signing the historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States next week.
7-Aug-2004
Businessmen are being urged to do their homework with regard to Bahrain’s upcoming Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US.
2-Aug-2004
Hotline invites views on FTA
People can now have their say on Bahrain’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US.