US-Bahrain food trade deal gets Cabinet nod

Manama : Bahrain yesterday gave approval to a memorandum of understanding signed with the United States of America on cooperation in the field of trade in food and agricultural products. 

This came as Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the regular weekly Cabinet session at the Gudaibiya Palace. Approval was given as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs and presented by Deputy Premier and Chairman of the committee chairman, and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism.

The agreement, according to the office of the US Trade Representative, was contained in a memorandum of understanding signed March 30 by trade officials from both countries. 

“I am very pleased to support America’s farmers and ranchers by concluding and signing this memorandum of understanding that clarifies requirements for US food and agricultural exports to Bahrain,” Deputy US Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish said in a statement.

US agricultural and fishery exports to Bahrain in 2017 amounted to $76 million, according to USTR.

But Bahrain was the 8th-largest US source of refined and primary aluminum last year, with exports valued at $240 million, according to Commerce Department data.

A free-trade agreement between United States and Bahrain entered into force in January of 2006.