[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 152 (Wednesday, November 16, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H10496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




UNITED STATES-BAHRAIN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 
               OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 109-71)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jindal) laid before the House the 
following message from the President of the United States; which was 
read and, together with the accompanying papers, without objection, 
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed:

To the Congress of the United States:
  I am pleased to transmit legislation and supporting documents to 
implement the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (the 
``Agreement''). This Agreement enhances our bilateral relationship with 
a strategic friend and ally in the Middle East region and will promote 
economic growth and prosperity in both nations.
  In negotiating this Agreement, my Administration was guided by the 
objectives set out in the Trade Act of 2002. The Agreement reflects my 
Administration's commitment to opening markets and expanding 
opportunities for American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses. 
The Agreement will open Bahrain's market for U.S. manufactured goods, 
agricultural products, and services. As soon as it enters into force, 
the Agreement will eliminate tariffs on all manufactured goods that the 
United States sells to Bahrain and immediately remove Bahrain's import 
duties on over 80 percent of U.S. agricultural products. The Agreement 
is also one of the most comprehensive ever negotiated to reduce 
barriers to trade in services and will create new opportunities for 
U.S. services firms.
  The Agreement contains procedures that will facilitate cooperation 
between the United States and Bahrain on environmental and labor 
matters. The labor chapter of the Agreement reinforces Bahrain's recent 
legislative actions to expand democracy and improve the protection of 
worker rights, including trade union rights. Provisions in the 
Agreement requiring effective enforcement of environmental laws will 
contribute to high levels of environmental protection.
  The approval of this Agreement will be another significant step 
towards creating a Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013. This Agreement 
offers the United States yet another opportunity to encourage economic 
reform in a moderate Muslim nation as we have done through our free 
trade agreements with Jordan and Morocco. Leaders in Bahrain are 
supporting the pursuit of social and economic reforms in the region, 
encouraging foreign investment connected to broad-based development, 
and providing better protection for women and workers. It is strongly 
in our national interest to embrace and encourage these reforms, and 
passing this legislation is a crucial step toward that end.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, November 16, 2005.

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