Africa and The Middle East

The House of Representatives will vote on legislation implementing the Oman Free Trade Agreement on Thursday (July 20), an aide to House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) said today (July 17). The Senate passed the measure June 29 by a vote of 60-34. The House Ways and Means Committee approved the legislation in a 23-15 vote last month, with all of the present Democrats voting against the deal.

Oman's government issued a royal decree on July 7 that a U.S. trade official described as significantly reforming that country's labor laws, which have been criticized as too weak by House Democrats in advance of a floor vote on the U.S.-Oman FTA that is expected this month. The U.S. trade official said the royal decree shows Oman is serious about protecting labor rights and predicted the FTA would be approved by a "strong vote" in the House. The decree includes...

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to consider the final version of the bill implementing the Oman Free Trade Agreement Wednesday (June 28), provided the Bush Administration is sending it to Congress as expected today (June 26). If the committee acts, the full Senate can then hold a floor vote on legislation this week, according to a GOP aide. This would require a unanimous consent agreement between Senate Democrats and Republicans to limit floor time. "We don't want to burn...

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) today (June 23) said the House is likely to vote on legislation implementing the U.S.-Oman free trade agreement in July. But he said GOP leaders have yet to decide on the order for considering trade legislation with Peru and Vietnam. "The only order set is Oman, and I think we'll get to it in July," Blunt said following a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab. He said no specific date was targeted yet...

The Senate today (Sept. 24) approved legislation implementing a free-trade agreement with Jordan after Sen. Phil Gramm (R-TX) dropped his objections based on the inclusion of labor and environmental obligations in the FTA. Gramm had argued that the FTA would allow Jordan to challenge a U.S. decision to drill for oil in Alaska backed by trade sanctions. In the Sept. 24 floor debate, Gramm said he was releasing his hold because President Bush's desire to see the bill pass in...