US and Bahrain sign trade MoU

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) intended to strengthen trade relations between the two countries.

The MoU was signed by the US Trade Representative deputy Jeffrey Gerrish and Bahrain Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed Al-Zayani.

Gerrish said: “I am very pleased to support America’s farmers and ranchers by concluding and signing this MoU that clarifies requirements for US food and agricultural exports to Bahrain.

“USTR appreciate Bahrain’s strategic partnership with the US in the Gulf region and looks forward to continuing joint efforts to facilitate trade between our countries.”

The memorandum will support certainty and cooperation on requirements for US exports of food and agriculture products to Bahrain, and is expected to create new opportunities between the two nations that will facilitate bilateral trade in food and agriculture products.

Under the memorandum, Bahrain will continue to accept existing US export certifications for food and agricultural products.

The MoU will also provide a new platform for consultations to address potential new requirements, as well as increasing certainty in the supply of food and agricultural products from the US to Bahrain.

Last year, the US exported $76m worth of agricultural and fishery products to Bahrain.