The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced that the United States and Bahrain have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Trade in Food and Agriculture Products. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish and Bahrain Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed Al-Zayani signed the MOU and discussed further strengthening U.S.-Bahrain trade relations.
The MOU supports certainty and enhanced cooperation on requirements for U.S. exports of food and agriculture products to Bahrain, and enables more opportunities for the United States and Bahrain to continue joint efforts to facilitate bilateral trade in food and agriculture products. Additionally, the MOU provides that Bahrain will continue to accept existing U.S. export certifications for food and agricultural products. It also provides for consultations to address potential new requirements and to increase certainty in the supply of food and agricultural products from the United Stated to Bahrain.
“I am very pleased to support America’s farmers and ranchers by concluding and signing this memorandum of understanding that clarifies requirements for U.S food and agricultural exports to Bahrain,” said Deputy USTR Jeffry Gerrish. “USTR appreciate Bahrain’s strategic partnership with the United States in the Gulf region and looks forward to continuing joint efforts to facilitate trade between our countries.”
Background
U.S. agricultural and fishery exports to Bahrain in 2017 totaled $76 million dollars. In total goods, the United States exported $907 million and imported $996 million in 2017. In total services, the United States exported $271 million and imported $1.3 billion in 2016 (latest data available). The United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement entered into force on January 11, 2006.
