U.S. Ambassador Meets with Minister of Economy and Trade

February 5, 2010

On February 5, 2010 U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michele J. Sison met with Minister of Economy and Trade Mohammed Safadi.  At the Ministry, Ambassador Sison and Minister Safadi discussed the progress of negotiations towards Lebanon's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).  Ambassador Sison reiterated the United States' support for Lebanon's entry into the WTO, stressing the important benefits Lebanon's private sector will derive from the reforms requisite for WTO membership, including stronger protections for intellectual property.  Since 2000, the United States has provided technical assistance to the Ministry's WTO accession team through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).  USAID has also launched the Quality Control and Certification (QCC) program with the Ministry and the Beirut, Tripoli, and Saida chambers of commerce.  Under this program, four agricultural product development and testing laboratories in Lebanon will be upgraded to receive international certification and serve as "one-stop export shops" for Lebanese agro-food processers.