An assessment of the political economy of trade between Jordan and the United States of America
This thesis considers the political economy of trade between Jordan and the United States. In so doing a number of questions are asked regarding the national interests which have led to the facilitation of bilateral trade, the nature of contemporary trade and market integration as well as the impacts of these on inter-state cooperation. Throughout this thesis the role of Jordanian and US engagement in international institutions is considered and conclusions formed regarding the utility of these in trade relations and inter-state cooperation. It is found that the Jordanian government's key interests over the past decade or so have been the pursuit of economic growth and stability. It is also found that these interests have been pursued through economic reform at the domestic level and trade liberalisation through international institutions at the international level. It is also concluded that the United States is pursuing a number of key policy goals in the Middle East and North Africa. These are, securing sustainable access to the region's resources, gaining greater access to the region's markets and achieving inter-state cooperation with MENA states. It is demonstrated that the United States is pursuing these goals by encouraging states in the region to engage in international institutions and liberalise trade with each other and with the United States to increase economic integration and inter-state cooperation. The convergence of the two states' policy directions has led to inter-state cooperation in the facilitation of trade between Jordan and the United States.In order to assess the current nature of contemporary trade between Jordan and the United States and what the impacts of inter-state cooperation have been, trade in three economic sectors has been studied.
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