[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16546]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    U.S.-JORDAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise in support of S. 643, which 
implements the agreement between the United States and Jordan 
establishing a Free Trade Area. The legislation passed the Finance 
Committee and is now on the Senate calendar.
  Jordan has been one of the few Arab states to actively work with the 
United States to establish a real and lasting peace in the Middle East. 
The U.S.-Jordan FTA represents a solid trade agreement as well as a 
strong signal of support to a valued ally. Although Jordan is not 
currently a major trading partner of the United States, this agreement 
should open the door for increased trade and commerce between the U.S. 
and Jordan. More importantly, it is my sincere hope it will help to 
bring peace to the region through economic stability.
  The principal feature of the U.S.-Jordan FTA is the mutual 
elimination of tariffs within 10 years. Modeled after the U.S.-Israel 
FTA, it also limits other non-tariff trade barriers and establishes a 
mechanism for the settlement of disputes. The agreement is also unique. 
Most notably, it specifically states that each country shall strive to 
maintain and enforce its respective labor and environmental laws.
  I recognize that these particular provisions have sparked some 
debate. However, I see them as historic progress on a vexing issue. Not 
only have they established a reasonable standard that we should expect 
from any of our trading partners, they also have catapulted this 
Congress and this administration into a real dialogue toward defining a 
new international trade consensus. The Jordan agreement aside, I find 
it completely reasonable that we should expect our trading partners to 
maintain their labor and environmental standards. That's simply good 
business. To weaken such standards solely to gain a trade advantage 
would undermine a country's credibility--not to mention destabilize the 
very trade relationship the FTA was intended to benefit.
  The U.S.-Jordan FTA has been negotiated and signed. The Bush 
Administration supports it and has no intention or renegotiating a new 
agreement. The Jordanian Parliament ratified the Agreement last May. 
Our colleagues in the House have already approved the implementing 
legislation for the agreement. Jordan's King Abdullah II visits the 
U.S. next week to urge passage of the agreement.
  I hope his visit will encourage potential detractors to recognize the 
importance for swift action and agree not to stand in the way of 
immediate consideration of this vital legislation.
  Simply put, this is a good trade agreement. The time is right for the 
Senate to take up and pass it without amendment.

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