The United States and Bahrain will seek to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement. A U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement would be a major step toward achieving the Middle East free trade area proposed by President Bush on May 9, 2003.
This free trade agreement offers a number of other benefits: it would be an important step in advancing our two countries' shared goals of peace and stability in the Middle East; it will mean enhanced commercial relations with a leading economic reformer in the Arab world; and it will help expand the circle of opportunity for people in the Middle East.
The intent to negotiate will proceed in accordance with the Congressional consultations and notification procedures under the Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002.
George W. Bush, Statement by the Press Secretary on United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/281105