US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The United States-Jordan Free Trade Agreement was signed on October 24, 2000. It was ratified by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 31, 2001 by voice vote, and by voice vote in the U.S. Senate on December 7, 2001. President Bush signed the United States-Jordan Free Trade Area Implementation Act into law on September 28, 2001. [1] It was implemented by both countries on December 17, 2001.
[edit] Views in favor of the Jordan FTA
Unlike many trade agreements, the U.S.-Jordan FTA had widespread, bipartisan and multi-sectoral support, as evidenced by the support of the AFL-CIO and the pact's passage by voice vote. As with other trade agreements, proponents pointed to the reduction of customs duties and other barriers to trade as a boon to exports.
[edit] Labor Rights Issues Under the Jordan FTA
In 2006, the National Labor Committee (a U.S.-based NGO) released a series of reports that showed a proliferation of sweatshop conditions in Jordan's export zones. Many members of Congress reacted with concern, since the Jordan FTA was considered to have particularly strong labor rights provisions.
