Jordan Times
Monday, August 2, 2004
Jordan's exports to US rocket
72%
AMMAN (AFP) — Jordanian exports to the US market have shot up, with a 72 per
cent rise in dollar terms in the first five months of 2004 compared to the same
period of last year, the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan said on Sunday.
“Jordanian exports to the US increased dramatically in 2003, which amounted to
about $673 million, up from $412 million in 2002,” a rise of 63 per cent,
figures released by the chamber of commerce showed.
Exports during the first five months of 2004 “amounted to about $362 million, up
from $210 million during the same period of 2003”, or an increase of 72 per
cent, it indicated.
Trade relations between Jordan and the United States were enhanced after the two
countries signed a Free Trade Agreement in October 2000. The accord went into
force in December 2001.
Jordan became the fourth country to sign such an agreement with Washington,
after Canada, Mexico and Israel.
According to the agreement, US tariffs on imports from Jordan are being cut in
four stages, which started from January 2001, until they are phased out
completely by 2010.