Jordanian, US trade relations highlighted

Jordanian Prime Minister Abdul Raouf al-Rawabdeh on Sunday discussed with the US Secretary of Commerce William Daley trade and economic cooperation relations between the two countries, US economic and financial backing to Jordan and the establishment of joint investments and more qualified industrial zones in Jordan.

In statements following his meeting with al-Rawabdeh, Daley said that the meeting, attended by Jordanian Trade and Industry Minister Muhammad Asfour and a Jordanian economic team, addressed economic relations with Jordan though several steps, including new qualified industrial zones that can export to the US markets without customs fees, as well as the current qualified industrial zone in the industrial city of al-Hassan in Irbid, northern Jordan.

Daley said this topic will be fully discussed between Jordan's King Abdullah II and US President Bill Clinton during their meeting in Washington on Tuesday, as well as the issue of joint investment and US backing for Jordan.

Daley described Jordan's joining of the World Trade Organization as a very important step for Jordan and the US, noting that joint steps were taken for this purpose.

For his part, Asfour said that concentration during the meeting was made on US support to the already advanced programming and technological industries in Jordan as well as, the qualified industrial zones and joint investments.

Daily, who arrived in Amman on Saturday in a two day visit to Jordan will also visit the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel.