Congress: 108 · Status: active · Israel/Palestine classification: neutral
Data (JSON) — machine-readable record of this bill (identifiers, sponsor, classification, actions, and the member-by-member vote breakdown).
Official record on Congress.gov — full text, actions, and cosponsor history for HR 2467.
Sponsor: Smith, Adam (D-Washington)
Middle East Trade and Engagement Act of 2003 - Authorizes the President to designate any of 20 specified Middle Eastern countries as a beneficiary country if the country meets specified requirements, which focus on economic policy, the rule of law, alignment with U.S. trade and foreign policy interests, the promotion of human rights, and combating terrorism. Authorizes the President to designate the Palestinian Authority as a beneficiary country if it satisfies specified requirements, including cooperation in anti-terrorism efforts and the acceptance of Israel's right to exist. Authorizes the President to designate articles from all beneficiary countries, including Israel and Jordan, as eligible for duty-free treatment, subject to rules of origin requirements and certain restrictions under existing law. Requires the President to establish a United States-Middle East Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum. Declares that bilateral free trade agreements should be negotiated with interested countries or political entities in the greater Middle East. Requires any country or political entity that desires to negotiate such an agreement with the United States to be a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) or working toward WTO membership and to satisfy the criteria for designation as a beneficiary country. Directs the President to develop a plan for negotiating and entering into trade agreements with interested beneficiary countries. Terminates the preferential treatment extended to beneficiary countries under this Act on December 31, 2011.
Allows the President to grant duty-free trade status to up to 20 Middle Eastern countries plus the Palestinian Authority and Israel, provided they meet criteria including human rights protections, counter-terrorism cooperation, and (for the Palestinian Authority) recognition of Israel's right to exist. Requires the President to create a US-Middle East Trade Forum and pursue bilateral free trade agreements with interested countries that join or work toward WTO membership. The preferential trade benefits expire on December 31, 2011.
This legislation conditions Palestinian Authority access to preferential US trade terms on explicit recognition of Israel's right to exist—a rare instance of Congress using trade leverage to influence Palestinian political positions. The framework also places Israel and Palestinian Authority on equivalent footing as trade partners, which carries symbolic weight in congressional Israel-Palestine legislation.