MOET

 TRADE AND INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE

GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LEBANON AND

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CONCERNCNG THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT RELATIONS

1. Desiring to enhance the bonds of friendship and the spirit of cooperation between the two Parties;
2. Desiring to promote international trade and to strengthen economic relations between the two Parties;
3. Recognizing the importance of fostering an open and predictable environment for international trade and investment;
4. Recognizing the benefits to each Party resulting from increased international trade and investment, and that trade-distorting investment measures and protectionist trade barriers would deprive the Parties of such benefits;
5. Recognizing the essential role of private investment, both domestic and foreign, in furthering growth, creating jobs, expanding trade, improving technology, and enhancing economic development;
6. Recognizing that foreign direct investment confers positive benefits on each Party;
7. Desiring to encourage and facilitate private sector contacts between the two countries;
8. Recognizing the desirability of resolving trade and investment problems as expeditiously as possible;
9. Recognizing the .increased importance of services in trade between the Parties` economies and in their bilateral relations;
10. Taking into account the need to eliminate non-tariff barriers in order to facilitate greater access to the markets of both countries and the mutual benefits thereof;
11. Recognizing the importance of providing adequate and effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights and of membership in and adherence to intellectual property rights conventions;
12. Recognizing the importance of providing adequate and effective protection and enforcement of worker rights in accordance with each Party`s own labor laws, and of improving the observance and promotion of internationally recognized labor rights and principles in the ILO Declaration On Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up (1998);
13. Desiring to ensure that trade and environmental policies are mutually supportive in the furtherance of sustainable development;
14. Desiring to promote transparency and to eliminate bribery and corruption in international trade and investment;
15. Desiring that this Trade and Investment Framework Agreement ("Agreement"} reinforce the multilateral trading system; and
16. Considering that it would be in their mutual interest to establish a bilateral mechanism between the Parties for encouraging the liberalization of trade and investment between them.

1. To monitor trade and investment relations, to identify opportunities for expanding trade and investment, and to identify issues relevant to trade or investment, such as intellectual property, labor, or environmental issues that may be appropriate for negotiation in an appropriate forum.
2. To hold consultations on specific trade and investment matters of interest to the Parties.
3. To identify and work toward the removal of impediments to trade and investment flows between the Parties.
4. To seek the advice of the private sector and civil society, where appropriate, in their respective countries on matters related to the work of the Council.