ANCA makes case for expanded U.S.-Armenia trade

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) circulated a memo to Congressional offices this week making the case for a U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) to expand trade, promote investment, and foster job creation in both the United States and Armenia.

The ANCA memo stressed that "A TIFA would help foster economic growth in both the United States and Armenia, strengthening ties between our two governments and further reinforcing the bonds between American and Armenian peoples." The memo includes a chart illustrating U.S.-Armenia trade levels since 1992.

Also cited in memo are the ANCA's June 11, 2010 letter calling upon U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Ambassador Ron Kirk, to negotiate a TIFA with Armenia, as well as the ANCA's June 21, 2010 update to U.S. legislators about the Armenian American community's efforts to broaden America's economic engagement with Armenia.

The U.S. has negotiated TIFAs with over 50 other countries and regional economic groups, including Georgia and Ukraine. These agreements provide strategic frameworks and principles for ongoing government-to-government dialogue on trade and investment issues. The prospect of putting in place such an agreement has been on the agenda of past meetings of the U.S.-Armenia Joint Economic Task Force, but no specific action has yet been taken to translate these discussions into reality.