Jordan has a "distinguished” economic partnership with the US, thanks to His Majesty King Abdullah’s efforts to strengthen economic relations with many countries in the Kingdom’s best interest, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Maha Al Ali said on Sunday.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Ali added that the US is one of Jordan's main economic partners, particularly in the trade sector. The Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed between the countries in 2000 and implemented in December 2001, framed the strength of US-Jordan relations in the trade sector, she added. 

Jordan was the first Arab country to sign a free trade agreement with the US, which highlights the two countries’ "deep-rooted” ties, the minister noted.

The FTA has helped maximise the private sector's export opportunities to the US market. Exports to the US reached about $63 million before the deal’s signing in 2000, yet the export volume has increased significantly following the FTA’s implementation, she pointed out.

According to foreign trade data, Jordan’s imports from the US prior to deal’s implementation amounted to $454 million, with a trade deficit of $391 million in favour of the US, the minister added. 

Ali added that in the years immediately following the agreement the national economy was able to achieve a trade surplus of $37 million. In 2006, the surplus had increased to about $700 million, she said.

She highlighted that the agreement has continued to succeed. In 2020, the value of national exports to the US exceeded $1.7 billion, of which about $1.3 billion were exports from the garment sector.

The minister stressed that the agreement has also improved Jordan’s investment environment and provided a framework for technical assistance to Jordan. 

Ali praised the role of the American Chamber of Commerce in Amman for promoting the FTA, organising business missions and networking with Jordanian and US private sectors.

The primary goods Jordan exports to the US are clothing, textiles, medicines and products from engineering industries. The Kingdom imports machinery, fuel products, electrical appliances, wheat, pharmaceuticals and other commodities from the US.