[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 22844-22845]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   NOTIFICATION OF THE PRESIDENT'S INTENT TO ENTER INTO A FREE TRADE 
              AGREEMENT WITH THE SULTANATE OF OMAN--PM 26

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

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 intention to enter into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 
with the Sultanate of Oman.
  The Agreement will generate export opportunities for U.S. companies, 
farmers, and ranchers, help create jobs in the United States, and help 
American

[[Page 22845]]

consumers save money while offering them more choices. Entering into an 
FTA with Oman will build on the FTAs that we already have with Israel, 
Jordan, and Morocco, as well as the FTA that we have concluded with 
Bahrain, and will be an important step on the path to fulfilling my 
vision of developing economic growth and democracy in the Middle East 
and creating 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 FTA. My Administration looks 
forward to working with the Congress in developing appropriate 
legislation to approve and implement this Agreement.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, October 17, 2005.

                          ____________________