press releases 2007

U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID/Lebanon Mission Director Raouf Youssef and Minister of Economy and Trade Sami Haddad signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Grand Serail on Tuesday, February 6, 2007, in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) extends U.S. assistance to the Government of Lebanon to prepare for Lebanon’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This assistance will also help the Government of Lebanon meet the reform goals it outlined at the international donors’ conference in Paris last month. United States assistance aims to support the Government of Lebanon’s efforts to strengthen the economy, increase job creation and extend economic prosperity to all of Lebanon’s citizens.

During the past seven years the United States has, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), provided more than five million dollars in technical assistance to the Ministry of Economy and Trade. This assistance has resulted in the modification of several laws to meet WTO requirements. This includes laws on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), competition, food safety, veterinary quarantine, animal quarantine, technical barriers to trade (LIBNOR Lebanese standards and norms), licensing and international trade, anti-dumping, countervailing, safeguards and trademark. USAID has also funded awareness campaigns and training and workshops for members of the business community, including chambers of commerce, Ministry of Economy and Trade staff and customs authorities.

Providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Economy and Trade is tangible proof of the firm, enduring and non-negotiable commitment of the United States to Lebanon and the Lebanese people. Lebanon’s accession to the WTO offers the prospect of a more dynamic and robust private sector in Lebanon, with increased employment and opportunity for Lebanon’s talented workforce.


Under the terms of the MOU, the United States will assist Lebanon in developing its technical capacity in the following areas:

1) Negotiate and implement key reforms to bring its foreign trade regime in conformity with WTO agreements, laws and regulations;

2) Evaluate Lebanon’s policies, laws, regulations and institutions to identify problems and assist policy reform necessary to bring Lebanon’s foreign trade regime into conformity with WTO agreements;

3) Assist Lebanon in preparing all documents necessary for negotiations and to finalize the required accession documents; and

4) Build awareness within the public and private sectors, academia and the media about the WTO accession process and requirements and the likely impact of WTO accession on Lebanon.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has worked in Lebanon since 1951, funding development projects to benefit Lebanese citizens. USAID’s program promotes economic opportunities, job creation, good governance and environmental policies and practices in rural Lebanon. USAID provides $40 million assistance a year and works in partnership with U.S. and Lebanese organizations throughout the country. USAID strengthens the relationship between the people of Lebanon and the people of the United States, and promotes a shared vision of democracy and socio-economic development.

For more information about USAID’s projects in Lebanon, visit USAID’s website http://lebanon.usaid.gov.