January 19,2006

Grassley Praises Signing of U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Reporters and Editors
Re: Signing of U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement
Da: Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006

Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, with jurisdiction over
international trade, today welcomed the signing of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement. This
agreement was signed by U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman and Oman’s Minister of
Commerce and Industry, Maqbool bin Ali Sultan. Grassley made the following comment on the
signing.

“This agreement is positive for the United States. It will give new market access
opportunities to American farmers, manufacturers, and service providers, including those in Iowa.
“Maybe most important, the U.S.-Oman agreement marks yet another major step in fulfilling
the President’s goal of completing a Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013. A comprehensive free
trade area in the Middle East would create significantly improved market opportunities for U.S.
exporters in a part of the world with a fast-growing population. It also would cement ties between
our nations and would help build increased economic opportunity and respect for the rule of law in
the region. I look forward to working with the President to achieve this goal.”