Iraq, US Jordan's main trading partners in 2001
AMMAN (AFP) ‹ Arch-enemies Iraq and the United States were Jordan's main trading partners last year, Trade Ministry official figures published on Tuesday showed.
Trade with Iraq in the first 11 months of 2001 reached $819 million, or 13.4 per cent of Jordan's total foreign exchanges of $6.1 billion, up from $5.4 billion in the same period of 2000.
Iraq is under a United Nations embargo imposed in 1990 when it invaded Kuwait, which includes strict limits on its trade, but neighbouring Jordan enjoys an exemption, notably concerning oil supplies.
Jordan's trade with the United States came to $548 million, or nine per cent of the total, followed by Germany with $422 million (7 per cent), Saudi Arabia with $261 million (4.2 per cent), China with $246 million (4 per cent) and India with $242 million (3.9 per cent).
Jordan and the United States signed a free trade agreement in Washington last October, which should boost Amman's exports across the Atlantic.
Despite the Palestinian uprising, which Jordan broadly supports, trade with Israel rose from $70 million in the first 11 months of 2000 to $87 million last year, or 2.8 per cent of the total.
Jordan's trade with Israel is in favour of the Jewish state, as it is with the United States, Germany, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
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