[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18429-18430]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       OMAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I wish to take a few moments to comment on 
the bill we will be voting on later this morning, the Oman Free Trade 
Agreement.
  On June 29, the Senate passed the Oman Free Trade Agreement by a vote 
of 60 to 34. Today, we will bring the Oman Free Trade Agreement to the 
floor again for final passage of the House bill.
  We have a long history with Oman. Our relationship has extended for 
nearly 200 years. It dates back to 1833, when a treaty of friendship 
and navigation was signed with Muscat. Oman was the first Arab country 
to send an ambassador to the United States.
  Over the years, Oman has offered us valuable support. When we needed 
a local airbase for an attempt to rescue U.S. Embassy hostages in Iran 
during the Carter administration, Oman volunteered. When we needed a 
safe ground for our troops during Operation Enduring Freedom in 
Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Oman volunteered.
  Today, Oman cooperates closely with us and other allies on 
counterterrorism and has publicly supported the democratic transition 
in Iraq. Although not a formal member of the coalition, Oman has been a 
committed, dependent ally in the Global War on Terror.
  In Oman, we have found a solid partner on terrorist finance issues. 
Oman partners with its neighbors on transborder terror threats, and 
Oman's Government and religious leaders consistently and courageously 
denounce acts of terror and religious intolerance.
  It is clear that through nearly 200 years of formal relations, we 
have enjoyed a close and cooperative partnership that continues to 
expand.
  The free-trade agreement before us builds on the progress already 
made. It strengthens our relationship with a key friend and ally in the 
region, and it is a model for free trade in the entire Persian Gulf 
region.
  It is not our first bilateral agreement in the region. We struck 
similar deals with Jordan in 2000, with Morocco in 2004, and with 
Bahrain in 2005. Like these earlier deals, the Oman agreement will open 
and expand opportunities for exports of many American products. 
America's workers, manufacturers, consumers, farmers, ranchers, and 
service providers will all benefit.
  As soon as the agreement takes effect, Oman and the United States 
will provide each other immediate duty- free access on virtually all 
products in our tariff schedules. This includes all consumer and 
industrial products. We will phase out tariffs on the remaining 
products within 10 years. Former Trade Representative Rob Portman 
called it ``a high-quality, comprehensive free trade agreement that 
will contribute to economic growth and trade.''
  Unfortunately, some have sought to undermine the agreement. They have 
propagated myths that don't stand up to scrutiny. For example, despite 
claims to the contrary, Oman does not implement any aspect of the Arab 
boycott of Israel. Oman publicly affirms and has reaffirmed its 
position in a letter from its Commerce Minister in September 2005. 
Moreover, Oman neither tolerates nor allows the use of slave labor. 
Oman has made substantial commitments to the United States on labor 
reform, and it has promised to enact key reforms by October 31, 2006.
  Rejecting the trade agreement would send a strong negative signal to 
our friends in the Middle East. Oman is a forward-looking Arab country 
on a range of social and economic issues. We must demonstrate our 
support to Oman, just as Oman has supported us.
  As the 9/11 Commission advised, expanding trade with the Middle East 
will ``encourage development, more open societies, and opportunities 
for people to improve the lives of their families.'' Passing the 
agreement before us will promote economic reform and development in the 
Persian Gulf, and it will advance our goal of a freer and more open 
Middle East. Quite simply, it will move our allies forward, and it will 
move America forward.
  I urge my colleagues to demonstrate their commitment to these goals 
by voting to pass the Oman Free Trade Agreement later this morning.

[[Page 18430]]

  I yield the floor.

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