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  1. #1
    Senior Member jp_48504's Avatar
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    House narrowly approves trade deal with Oman

    House narrowly approves trade deal with Oman

    By Doug Palmer
    Reuters
    Thursday, July 20, 2006; 4:32 PM


    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly approved a free-trade pact with the Gulf Arab state of Oman, after a debate focused on the safety of U.S. ports and protections for Omani workers.

    The House voted 221-205 to strengthen trade and investment ties with the Middle East non-OPEC oil and natural gas producer that has a population of about 3 million. The Senate approved the Oman deal last month by 60-34.


    Islamic militiamen display weapons at the airport in Mogadishu. The militia said it planned to seize the city of Baidoa, 150 miles to the northwest. (Mohamed Sheikh Nor -- Associated Press)


    Two-way trade between the United States and Oman was worth about $1 billion in 2005. Although the deal is small economically, it brings the Bush administration closer to its goal of creating a free-trade zone in the Middle East by 2013.

    The tight House vote heralds a difficult battle for another trade pact with Peru up for a vote this year.

    Most Democrats voted against the trade pact, in contrast to an agreement with another Gulf Arab state, Bahrain, that sailed through the House in December by a vote of 327-95.

    Oman is next door to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which is home to Dubai Ports World, the firm whose attempt to purchase U.S. port operations set off a political firestorm earlier this year.

    Democrats argued, with support from a few Republicans, that the Oman trade pact raised the same national security concerns by opening the door for an Arab or another foreign company to acquire U.S. port operations.

    "Who's to say al Qaeda would not set up shop in Oman to gain access to control of our ports?" said Rep. Michael Michaud, a Maine Democrat. "Do you really think terrorists could not take advantage of this provision?"


    Republicans and the Bush administration said those fears were unwarranted because the pact had an "essential security" provision allowing the United States to block any deal it believed would jeopardize national security.

    'FINDING PEACE AND SECURITY'

    They also argued the trade pact would make the world a safer place by increasing ties with a moderate Arab state with a long history of good relations with the United States.

    "What this is about is finding peace and security in the world, and the future of peace and security in the world largely rests on peace and security in the Middle East," said Rep. Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican.

    Most Democrats also were unswayed by a recent Omani royal decree aimed at strengthening worker rights in a country where foreigners comprise 75 percent of the work force. Oman also has pledged to implement other labor reforms by October 31.

    Rep. Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat, said Oman had failed so far to make changes "on the ground" to comply with international labor standards, as Bahrain already had done when lawmakers voted on that agreement last year.

    A few Democrats sided with Republicans and worried how the tight House vote would be seen in the Middle East.

    "What kind of message are we sending to one of the most important and the most volatile areas in the world?" Rep. Gregory Meeks, a New York Democrat.

    Under the pact, both countries would immediately eliminate duties on almost all industrial and consumer goods.

    Oman also will open its doors to more U.S. services industry companies in sectors such as banking and telecommunications. Agricultural trade will be almost duty-free from day one, and completely duty-free within 10 years.

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  2. #2
    Senior Member xanadu's Avatar
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    I've been off track on some of this stuff does anyone know the bill number and who voted for it?

    thanks
    "Liberty CANNOT be preserved without general knowledge among people" John Adams (August 1765)

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