WASHINGTON ‑ U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick
and representatives from the five Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, signed a Trade and
Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) today that will provide a forum to address
trade issues and will help enhance trade and investment between the United
States and Central Asia.
“More than a decade after independence in
Central Asia the countries in the region are exploring
new ways in which to open and liberalize trade. The
United
States is pleased to be a partner in this historic
agreement with the five Central Asian countries” said
Zoellick.
“The objective of the TIFA is to increase and
diversify trade and investment opportunities between the
United
States and Central Asia.
We look forward to working closely through the TIFA to further strengthen
our bilateral economic relationships and our relationship with the region as a
whole" commented Zoellick.
“The TIFA will also provide a regular forum
in which to address regional trade issues that hamper intra-regional trade and
economic development and can act as impediments to investment. The TIFA will not only deepen our
economic relationship with the Central Asian countries but will also create
stronger trade ties among the five countries in the region” added Zoellick.
Joining Zoellick in signing the agreement were Kazakh
Ambassador to the United States Kanat Saudabayev, Kyrgyz Ambassador to the
United States Baktybek Abdrisaev, Tajik Ambassador to the United States
Khamrokhon Zaripov, Turkmen Ambassador to the United States Meret Orazov, and
Uzbek Ambassador to the United States Abdulaziz
Kamilov.
The
TIFA creates a United States-Central Asia Council on Trade and Investment that
will consider a wide range of issues that include, but are not limited to,
intellectual property, labor, environmental issues, and enhancing the
participation of small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises in trade and investment.
The TIFA Council will establish an ongoing dialogue which will help increase
commercial and investment opportunities by identifying and working to remove
impediments to trade and investment flows between the
United
States and Central Asia.
The
United
States has TIFAs with a number of countries in
order to enhance trade ties and coordinate regionally and multilaterally through
regular senior‑level discussions on trade and economic issues.
Regular, ongoing
dialogues established through TIFAs with other countries and regions have been
very successful and have led to concrete, positive results. The Central Asia
TIFA would complement the ongoing efforts of the three Central Asian countries
currently negotiating accession to the WTO
(Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan) and
U.S. cooperation with
Kyrgyzstan as a WTO member.
Background:
The five countries
of Central
Asia have a combined
population of 55.9 million.
U.S. imports from Central Asia totaled $570.5 million in 2003;
U.S. exports amounted to $548.1 million in that
same year. Major exports to the
region include machinery and equipment, chemicals, agricultural products and
aircraft. Major imports from
Central
Asia include mineral
fuels, chemicals, textiles, metals and cotton.
The
United
States is aggressively working to open markets
globally, regionally, and bilaterally and to expand American opportunities in
overseas markets. In a January 2004 letter to the 146 WTO members, Zoellick
urged Members to revive the global trade talks. In February Zoellick traveled over
30,000 miles and met with over 40 WTO members in strategic consultations. Immediately following that trip,
Zoellick traveled to San Jose, Costa
Rica for meetings February 23-24 with ministers
from the Cairns Group of agriculture exporting countries to discuss liberalizing
trade in agriculture within ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) trade
negotiations.
For further information, consult the text of the agreement.