Israel–United States Free Trade Agreement: Difference between revisions

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The United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement is a trade pact between the State of Israel and the United States of America established in 1985 that lowers some barriers to trade in some goods.

History of Trade Agreement

Negotiations for the pact began January 1, 1984 and concluded February 1, 1985. The pact was signed on April 22, 1985. Implementing legislation was introduced into the U.S. Congress on April 29 of that year by Rep. James C. Wright, Jr. (D-Texas); it was ratified by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 7 by a 422-0 vote, and by the U.S. Senate on May 23 by a voice vote. The pact was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on June 11, and implemented on September 1.

During the negotiations, the FBI found the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in possession of classified information outlining the US negotiating position. The document in question, a report from the International Trade Commission to US Trade Representative William E. Brock contained proprietary data provided by US corporations under conditions of strict confidentiality.

Since 1989, the US cumulative trade deficit with Israel has reached $62.65 billion, adjusted for inflation.

On April 29, 2009 The Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy submitted a legal filing to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) calling for suspension of the US-Israel Free Trade Area.

"The Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep) "Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974" filing includes previously unreleased internal International Trade Commission (ITC) files recently obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and testimony from US counterintelligence agencies and concerned American industries." - BusinessWire

References

Declassified FBI file investigating espionage and theft of government property during trade negotiations. The FBI targeted the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Israeli embassy.
International Trade Commission public file of US-Israel Free Trade Area negotiation documents.
USTR Site on US-Israel FTA
Quantitative Analysis of the US-Israel FTA
[1] Petition under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 for Suspension of the US-Israel Free Trade Area

References

USTR Site on US-Israel FTA

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 Negotiations for the pact began January 1, 1984 and concluded February 1, 1985. The pact was signed on April 22, 1985. Implementing legislation was introduced into the [[U.S. Congress]] on April 29 of that year by Rep. [[James C. Wright, Jr.]] (D-[[Texas]]); it was ratified by the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] on May 7 by a 422-0 vote, and by the [[U.S. Senate]] on May 23 by a [[voice vote]]. The pact was signed into law by President [[Ronald Reagan]] on June 11, and implemented on September 1.
+During the negotiations, the FBI found the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] in possession of classified information outlining the US negotiating position. The document in question, a report from the [[International Trade Commission]] to US Trade Representative William E. Brock contained proprietary data provided by US corporations under conditions of strict confidentiality.
+Since 1989, the US cumulative trade deficit with Israel has reached $62.65 billion, adjusted for inflation.
+On April 29, 2009 The Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy submitted a legal filing to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) calling for suspension of the US-Israel Free Trade Area.
+"The Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep) "[[Section 301]] of the Trade Act of 1974" filing includes previously unreleased internal International Trade Commission (ITC) files recently obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and testimony from US counterintelligence agencies and concerned American industries." - BusinessWire
 == References ==