U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations for the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) were launched January 26, 2004 in Manama, Bahrain. Negotiations were completed on May 27, 2004 and the FTA was signed on September 14, 2004. On January 11, 2006, President Bush signed legislation implementing the US-Bahrain FTA. The Agreement entered into force on August 1, 2006. Bahrain was our 88th largest export market in 2005. U.S. exports to Bahrain in 2005 totaled $312 million.
Bahrain is the first U.S. FTA partner on the Arabian Peninsula and the third FTA partner among Arab countries (Jordan and Morocco are the others). The United States is currently negotiating an FTA with the United Arab Emirates and completed negotiations with Oman on January 19, 2006. An FTA with Bahrain is an integral part of President Bush's initiative to advance economic reforms in the Middle East and to establish a Middle East Free Trade Agreement (MEFTA) by 2013.
Services account for roughly 50 percent of Bahrain’s GDP and their services sector provides many business opportunities for U.S. firms. Bahrain has a very progressive banking sector and the country is considered the banking center of the Middle East. Bahrain has embarked on a series of progressive economic and political reforms in recent years making them a model for economic development in the region.
The Department of Commerce's Market Access and Compliance offices will be monitoring this Agreement to ensure that Bahrain fully complies with its trade obligations. If you encounter problems under the U.S.-Bahrain FTA, please contact our Agreements Compliance office.
Additional Resources
Text of the U.S.-Bahrain FTA
Textile, Apparel, Footwear, Leather and Travel Goods Information
Tariff Elimination
Frequently Asked Questions
Documenting Origin
Rules of Origin
U.S. Commercial Service Bahrain Website
United States Trade Representative U.S.-Bahrain FTA Website
For additional information please contact an International Trade Specialist at the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRADE.
