AMMAN, JORDAN – The ninth session of the Joint Jordanian-American Committee, which was held in the United States, discussed cooperation in trade, agriculture, food security and labor.
Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply Dana Zoubi chaired Jordan’s delegation and Deputy Representative of US Trade Jayme White represented Washington.
In a statement on Sunday, Zoubi said Jordanian-American economic relations are “historic and strategic,” and their foundations are based on common interests, stressing the need to develop ties, especially in the commercial fields.
She stressed on Jordan’s keenness to strengthen its trade and economic relations with US and attract foreign investments.
She said foreign investments would contribute to advancing the Hashemite Kingdom’s development and provide job opportunities for Jordanians.
White said Jordan-US relations are “deep-rooted”, pointing to the efforts to enhance trade and investment.
He said that sub-committees meetings help find out key hardships and obstacles that affect trade exchange flow, stressing the US side’s interest in holding the committee’s 10th session in Amman next year.
The committee’s discussions went over multiple issues of common concern, including ways to enhance trade exchange in goods and services areas, and importance of diversifying Jordanian exports to the United States, the statement said.
The committee also discussed ways to overcome hardships facing Jordan-US private sector in exports.
The Jordanian delegation urged US investors to enhance investment in the Kingdom and benefit from its new law.
The delegates thanked Washington for its continuous support to Jordan in a number of sectors, especially assistance provided by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) that target the commercial and economic sectors and various society groups.
The committee’s meetings yielded multiple outcomes, primarily formation of a joint sub-committee entrusted to revisiting legislation on environmental affairs to stimulate mutual trade.
It also looked to revisit the level of the two countries’ ecological protection in implementing Article 5 of Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and agreement to resolve a slew of hardships facing trade exchange.
In 2022, value of Jordan’s exports to the United States amounted to US$2.38 billion, which accounted for over 25 percent of the total national exports, while its imports stood at $1.49 billion, according to official data.
Jordan’s exports to the United States during last January amounted to $166.4 million, and its imports reached $212.4 million.
The committee convenes regularly to discuss ways and mechanisms to boost commercial cooperation in various fields and enhance trade exchange level under the FTA signed by the two countries in 2001.