(September 26, 2005) The California Chamber of Commerce is urging its members to ask their congressional representatives to support the U.S.- Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, currently pending before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. The hearing on this free trade agreement is set for September 29.
“The U.S.- Bahrain Free Trade Agreement will benefit both the California and the United States,” said Susanne Stirling, vice president of international affairs for the California Chamber of Commerce. “Last year, California exports to Bahrain were more than $ 16 million dollars. California is one of the nation’s top exporters, with exports of transportation equipment and crop production showing strong growth in recent years. The U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement will help continue this growth.”
Click here for a sample letter to send to California representatives on the House Ways and Means Committee.
This free trade agreement (FTA) will be particularly beneficial to U.S. exports of aircraft, machinery, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products. Two-way trade between the United States and Bahrain totaled nearly $706 million in 2004. U.S. goods exports were $300.7 million, including machinery, aircraft, vehicles, toys, and other manufactured products.
California is one of the 10 largest economies in the world with a gross state product of approximately $1.4 trillion. International-related commerce accounts for approximately one-quarter of the state’s economy.
A U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement would be the third U.S. agreement with an Arab country, following the U.S.-Jordan FTA signed in 2000 and the U.S.-Morocco FTA signed in 2004. The U.S.-Bahrain FTA is an integral part of the President’s administration strategy to create a Middle East FTA by 2013.
Five California representative sit on the House Ways and Means committee: Congressman Wally Herger (R-Marysville), Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), Fortney Pete Stark (D-Fremont), Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles), and Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena).
For more information on U.S- Bahrain Free Trade Agreement or other international issues, please visit the Chamber’s website at www.calchamber.com/international.
Click here for a sample letter to send to California representatives on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Staff Contact: Susanne Stiriling