U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement
This is no longer being updated by Public Citizen and exists for archival purposes only.
On January 19, 2006, the United States and the Middle Eastern country of Oman signed a free trade agreement. The U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement was part of the Bush administration’s strategy to expand the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to the Middle East by creating a Middle East Free Trade Area. The Oman FTA replicates the failed trade model embodied in NAFTA and the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
As a result of deep concerns about labor abuses and national security, the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives was unable to garner the broad majority in Congress it had hoped for to pass the Oman FTA. After several months of heated debate, the deal passed by a narrow margin July 20th, 2006. Read Public Citizen’s take on the Oman FTA’s narrow passage (PDF).
More On the Oman FTA And…
Learn More
- The Full Story: Close Vote on Tiny Oman Free Trade Agreement Exposes Shifts in U.S. Trade Politics
- Statement of Lori Wallach: Narrow Vote on Oman Free Trade Agreement Exposes Shift in U.S. Trade Politics
- Foreign Policy in Focus: Congress Approves Flawed Oman Trade Pact
- Statement of Congressman Murtha on the Oman Free Trade Agreement