Free trade pact with US hit Omani exports: OCCI official

Muscat: A free trade agreement between Oman and the United States, which was signed a decade ago, has not benefited Omani traders.
The agreement is still facing many challenges in terms of implementation, an official at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) told Al Shabiba, the sister publication of Times of Oman. The official blamed the standard specifications set by the US government for Omani products for this decrease.
While reiterating his trust in the quality of Omani products, he stressed that research should be conducted to meet common criteria and international standards.
Sulaiman bin Sultan Al Mughairy, assistant general manager at the OCCI, said that current figures do not reflect the expectations of the trade agreement between the two countries and their historic relationship, especially in the area of free trade, as Omani exports to the American market have witnessed a remarkable decrease.
It shows that there are obstacles that prevent Omani products from entering the United States market, or there may be lack of knowledge among the Omani traders of the advantages and facilities of the US market, he added.
Readymade clothes
Al Mughairy also criticised the quota system, which has been adopted by the US government and implemented for Omani exports, such as readymade clothes, saying it does not follow the principles of free trade, which had negatively affected local factories last year.
Moreover, he said many states in the United States do not follow/apply the federal system. The different set of rules in US states make it difficult for the Omani traders to adjust to the system while Oman has only set of rules.
Marc J. Sievers, the US ambassador to the Sultanate, said Omani companies are good partners when it comes to doing business with the United States.
He called upon businessmen in the two countries to benefit from the agreement and to invest more, while pointing out that the free trade agreement had resulted in trade exchange and services between the two countries have increasing by 50 per cent.