January 11,2006

Grassley: Bahrain Trade Pact is Good for U.S. Farmers, Businesses

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Reporters and Editors
Re: President’s signing of the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Da: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006

Today President Bush signed into law the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement
Implementation Act. Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, with jurisdiction
over international trade, made the following comment on today’s signing. Earlier, the Finance
Committee approved the bill on a unanimous, bipartisan vote.

“This agreement is a clear win for the United States. It will expand opportunities for U.S.
exports. It will strengthen U.S. security in the Middle East by further cementing our ties with
Bahrain, a strong U.S. ally in the region. In addition, this agreement will build upon President
Bush’s goal of completing a Middle East Free Trade Area by the year 2013. A Middle East Free
Trade Area would offer improved market access for U.S. agricultural, industrial, and services
products in a region of the world with a large, growing population.

“While the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement will benefit farmers and businesses
throughout the United States, I’m pleased that it will have a direct impact on Iowa. For example, the
HNI Corporation of Muscatine, Lennox’s residential heating and cooling products factory in
Marshalltown, and the Midamar Corporation of Cedar Rapids, all anticipate gains from this
agreement. I’m sure that this agreement will provide gains for other Iowa businesses as well.”