* US Sees Trade Agreement With UAE By Year EndSpeaking to the regional media following the recent commencement of bilateral free trade agreement talks between the United Arab Emirates and the United States, Assistant US Trade Representative, Catherine Novelli predicted that the agreement would be signed by the end of the year.
In an interview with Gulf News, Ms Novelli revealed that she could see no major obstacles to the FTA on the horizon, although she suggested that the UAE may need to bring its labour and environmental laws into line with international agreements in these areas.
"We are not saying that you have to change your law in accordance with the US demand. But it is necessary to see different laws in both countries in compliance with the international laws both countries have signed," she explained, going on to add:
"In addition we need to ensure that our legal frameworks are transparent and offering equal treatment for companies and investors in both countries."
The USTR official also stressed the need for discussion between the two countries prior to the implementation of new regulations in the areas likely to be affected by the agreement, observing that:
"It is so important to balance public interests when it comes to issuing regulations."