Middle East Trade and Engagement Act of 2003

The Middle East Trade and Engagement Act of 2003 was a legislative proposal designed to create a preferential trade program between the United States and 18 countries in the Middle East. The bill would have allowed the President to grant duty-free status to certain imported goods from these nations, provided they met specific criteria regarding human rights, anti-terrorism efforts, and the transition to market-based economies.

For American citizens, the bill aimed to lower the cost of imported goods from the region and foster regional stability by encouraging economic development and stronger diplomatic ties. While the bill sought to establish a framework for future free trade agreements and a cooperative economic forum, it did not pass into law and its provisions expired in 2011.