Business
The U.S. Embassy in Amman is committed to supporting trade and investment between the United States and Jordan. This portion of the website is designed to help you access U.S. and Jordanian business resources and to facilitate your networking with various public and private sector experts. On this site, you will find helpful links to market research, sector briefs and various commercial services to help you find partners and qualified buyers. You will also learn about the benefits of the Free Trade Agreement between Jordan and the United States.
The United States–Jordan Free Trade Agreement, the first free trade agreement (FTA) the United States signed with an Arab country, was signed in October 2000 and fully implemented on January 1, 2010. The U.S.-Jordan FTA has boosted bilateral economic ties by eliminating duties and commercial barriers to bilateral trade in goods and services originating in the United States and Jordan, providing cutting-edge protection for intellectual property, ensuring regulatory transparency, and requiring effective labor and environmental enforcement.
A cornerstone of the United States bilateral partnership with Jordan, which is based on mutual objectives of prosperity, stability and security, the FTA has resulted in an over 800% increase in bilateral trade. Today, as a result of the FTA, the United States is one of Jordan’s top five trading partners. Bilateral trade increased almost 10% in 2016 compared to 2015, driven by a 10% increase in U.S. exports to Jordan year on year. U.S. exports of services to Jordan were an estimated $710 million in 2015 (latest data available).
The FTA has not only meant greater trade in goods between the two countries, but also trade in services, investment, and job creation. Since the signing of the FTA, Jordan demonstrated commitment to its obligations by upgrading and introducing the legislative environment for bilateral trade and investment. Jordan adopted a number of legal and regulatory reforms aimed at safeguarding intellectual property rights, enhancing labor and environmental standards, and tackling dispute settlement procedures.
The FTA does not include an investment chapter, as the United States has a separate Bilateral Investment Treaty with Jordan. The U.S. – Jordan FTA along with the Bilateral Investment Treaty spurred mutual investment interests. Jordan today hosts some U.S. private sector giants such as; AES, Albemarle, Cargill, Microsoft, Cisco, Del Monte, among others. Moreover, Jordan’s energy diversification efforts created investment opportunities, and U.S companies were the first to pursue; First Solar, and Hecate are examples of success in this field and the potential remains huge in the field of renewable energy, energy saving and storage. Besides ICT and energy, sectors like healthcare, security and transportation have great potential for growth.
Jordan is a signatory to the Paris, Berne, and WTO Agreements on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Protection Development (TRIPs). Jordan ratified the 1996 World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT). Jordan also is a signatory to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).
Export to Jordan: Getting Started
The FTA’s rules of origin are not substantially different from standard rules of origin; they aim to ensure that only products/services that have been significantly manufactured in the United States or Jordan will enjoy duty-free treatment when exported to the other country. Goods/services must contain at least 35% local content (the sum of (1) the cost or value of the materials produced in the exporting Party, plus (2) the direct costs of processing operations performed in the exporting Party is not less than 35 percent), manufactured entirely in the U.S./Jordan, and imported directly from the originating country.
If you are considering exporting to Jordan, here are some steps you may wish to consider as you get started:
- Visit the Country Commercial Guide (Jordan) page to get an overview of economic conditions and opportunities in Jordan. You can also review the Investment Climate Statement 2021, and Jordan In Numbers.
- Contact your local U.S. Export Assistance Center for advice and support on exporting to Jordan, Please see export/gov/locations
- Contact in-country business support organizations such as the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan.
Investing in Jordan: Getting Started
If you are considering an investment in Jordan, here are some steps you may wish to consider as you get started:
- Register with the U.S. Embassy – If you are planning a visit to consider investment, let us know by sending an email to the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
- Visit host country resources, such as listed under Key Business Links.
- Contact local U.S. business support organizations, such as American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan.
Useful Links:
https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/jordan-fta
https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/agreements/fta/jordan/asset_upload_file366_8456.pdf
