With the signing of the FTA, a United States-Jordan FTA Coordinating Committee was established to synchronize the activities of private and public sector organizations in their efforts to implement the FTA. The Coordinating Committee consists of approximately 30 Jordanian private and public sector organizations as well as representatives from the United States Embassy in Jordan and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In order to work effectively, the Coordinating Committee needed a secretariat to orchestrate its work and the strategy for implementing the FTA. In November 2001, the Jordan-United States Free Trade Agreement Unit was established by mandate from the Coordinating Committee. The FTA Unit is designated as a component of the JABA, the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan.

The FTA unit is to be used as an extensive resource tool providing the following services to the United States and Jordanian business community:

• Respond to all FTA-related inquiries solicited by Jordanian and International businesses.

• Educate and familiarize Jordanian and International businesses with the benefits and the impact of the FTA through media, newsletters, website, publications, seminars, and workshops.

• Conduct research on specific issues of the FTA in order to thoroughly assist businesses with questions or special requirements. Researching will include identifying opportunities in the United States market and export requirements for Jordanians.

• Coordinate the work of the TIJARA Strategy and the Coordinating Committee.

TIJARA , a strategy for implementing the FTA, was developed by the FTA coordinating committee. The FTA coordinating committee consists of 24 member organizations:

• Amman Chamber of Commerce
• Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI)
• American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan (JABA)
• Achievement of Market-Friendly Initiatives and Results Program (AMIR)
• Amman World Trade Center
• Business and Professional Women Amman
• Federation of Jordanian Chambers of Commerce
• Irbid Chamber of Industry
• Information Technology Association-Jordan (INTAJ)
• The Jordanian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
• Jordanian Businessmen Association
• Jordan Customs Department
• Jordan Export Development & Commercial Center Corporation (JEDCO)
• Jordan Investment Board
• Jordan - U.S. Business Partnership
• Jordan Exporters Association
• Ministry of Industry and Trade

• Jordan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA)

• National Federation of Business and Professional Women 
  (e-mail: bpwcamm@go.com.jo)

• Royal Court/Economic Unit
• United States Embassy- Amman, Jordan
• United States Agency for International Development
• Young Entrepreneurs Association

• Zarqa Chamber of Industry

TIJARA was created with the vision that “Jordan shall become a premier center for United States trade and investment in the Middle East, and an efficient gateway to the United States market.” * By closely examining the visions used in developing the FTA, the committee devised a plan to achieve “substantially increased levels of trade and investment between Jordan and the U.S. through the FTA, contributing to more vibrant, diversified, private sector-led growth in Jordan.”

* TIJARA Strategy Report produced by Achievement of Market-Friendly Initiatives and Results Program (AMIR).

The staff of the FTA Unit is committed to assisting people and businesses with implementing the FTA. In order to quickly and effectively assist the community, the FTA Unit has developed two electronic forms specifically for questions and suggestions:

• If you have any questions relating to the FTA, complete the inquiry form. The FTA Unit will respond to your answer as quickly as possible.

• If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the FTA and its implementation, please complete the feedback form. All comments and suggestions will be reviewed and addressed by the U.S.-Jordan FTA Coordinating Committee.

If you wish to contact the FTA Unit by phone, fax or email visit the contact information page.