Senators to Give Jobs to Middle East Countries

Date: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 1:10 PM

JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER

www.ZaZona.com

Bush is moving closer to using his TPA (Trade Promotion Authority) to
make NAFTA like trade agreements with the following countries:

Algeria
Morocco
Bangladesh
Afghanistan
Egypt
Turkey
Pakistan
Iraq
Palestinian Authority

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont said, "There's not going to be peace in my
judgment until there is much stronger economic growth in the region."
Which region is Baucus talking about, the streets of New York, or
Baghdad?

http://boston.com/dailynews/169/economy/Senators_seek_trade_preference:.shtml

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2804835,00.html

Senators seek trade preferences for Middle East countries

By Jim Abrams, Associated Press, 6/18/2003 13:00

WASHINGTON (AP) Two Senate leaders on trade are advancing legislation
to offer trade preferences to Middle East countries which support the
war on terrorism and take steps toward economic reform.

''There's not going to be peace in my judgment until there is much
stronger economic growth'' in the region, said Sen. Max Baucus,
D-Mont., sponsor of the bill with Senate Commerce Committee Chairman
John McCain, R-Ariz.

Baucus, meeting with reporters Wednesday, said his bill, which gives
the president authority to designate specific products from a country
for duty-free treatment, would promote President Bush's longer-term
goal of establishing a Middle East free trade zone within a decade. It
conceivably could benefit even Iraq, and the Palestinian Authority as
well.

Baucus, top Democrat on the Finance Committee, said that spurring
economic growth and creating jobs would help young people in the Middle
East avoid the ''siren song of terrorism.''

Under the legislation, the president could provide trade benefits to
those countries that support the war on terrorism, have a market-based
economy, are pursuing economic reforms and respect human rights.

It is patterned after similar trade preference plans in effect for
sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

Eligible countries would come from the ''greater Middle East,'' ranging
from Algeria and Morocco in the west to Bangladesh in the east and
including Afghanistan, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Iraq and the
Palestinian Authority. Syria and Iran are not included, nor is India.

The United States already has free trade agreements with Israel and
Jordan.

On Tuesday Deputy Trade Representative Peter Allgeier, in testimony
before the Finance Committee, told Baucus that a trade preference
program could contribute to a more engaged economic relationship with
Middle East countries.

''There is nothing incompatible about, on the one hand, having a
preference program and, on the other hand, negotiating free trade
agreements with those countries that are ready,'' he said.

Baucus and McCain on Tuesday also wrote U.S. Trade Representative
Robert Zoellick and Secretary of State Colin Powell, urging them to
take up the idea of a trade preference program when they attend the
World Economic Forum in Jordan this weekend.

Baucus said he wanted to get the measure passed by the end of this
legislative year.

The bill is S. 1121.

On the Net: Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov/

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