| Israel and Jordan agreed yesterday to tear down many of their remaining trade barriers in a deal that paves the way for the Jewish state's first free trade accord with an Arab state by the end of 2010. "This new agreement will allow greater exports from both Israel and Jordan to the United States and the EU," Israeli Trade and Industry Minister Ehud Olmert told Reuters. The deal obliges Jordan to abolish many customs duties on Israeli products by 2010. The European Union has long pressed for such a move, which Jordan hopes will secure better customs and trade quota terms with the wealthy bloc. Israel sees Jordan as a bridge to the Arab world, and views the prospect of close economic and trade ties with an Arab state as an important step towards easing its regional isolation among its more hesitant Arab neighbors. |