WASHINGTON, June 21 (UPI) -- The Bush administration will focus on trade reform in a post-Saddam Hussein Middle East during this weekend's World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan.
The London Financial Times reported that some 1,100 delegates are expected to attend the meeting, intended as a show of reconciliation between the West and Arab nations following the divisive Iraq war.
With scant European representation expected, the U.S. agenda likely will dominate, The Times reported. Elizabeth Cheney is scheduled to present her initiatives -- reforms in the Arab world -- at the meeting. U.S. trade representative Robert Zoellick will make his pitch Monday for achieving U.S.-Middle East free trade by 2013.
The latter goal will require regulation changes. Currently, World Trade Organization membership is a prerequisite for free trade agreements. Morocco and Bahrain are WTO members and will likely be the first Arab countries offered FTAs.
Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Yemen and Sudan have only observer status. Others are neither members nor observers.
