[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12352]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 INTENT TO ENTER INTO FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH BAHRAIN--MESSAGE FROM 
        THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 108-193)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore 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:
  Consistent with section 2105(a)(1)(A) of the Trade Act of 2002, 
(Public Law 107-210; the ``Trade Act''), I am pleased to notify the 
Congress of my intent to enter into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with 
the Government of Bahrain.
  This agreement will create new opportunities for America's workers, 
farmers, businesses, and consumers by eliminating barriers in trade 
with Bahrain. Entering into an FTA with Bahrain will not only 
strengthen our bilateral ties with this important ally, it will also 
advance my goal of a U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) by 2013.
  Consistent with the Trade Act, I am sending this notification at 
least 90 days in advance of signing the United States-Bahrain FTA. My 
Administration looks forward to working with the Congress in developing 
appropriate legislation to approve and implement this free trade 
agreement.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, June 15, 2004.

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