Oman and US set to hold second round of FTA talks

The first round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Oman and the US ended on an optimistic note as the two decided to meet again for the second round of talks in Washington on April 18.

"The talks are moving smoothly with both the parties agreeing on most points on the agenda," Oman's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Maqbool Bin Ali Sultan, said yesterday at a joint press conference held at the Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel here.

He conceded that there were some points that needs to be clarified and talks on those issues could not be completed during the first round.

But, he added, that it would be difficult to elaborate on the unsettled issues.

"We hope to resolve all outstanding issues during the second round of talks in Washington," he hoped.

Neither Maqbool nor Catherine Novelli, assistant US Trade Representative, could give a timeframe for the signing of the FTA.