Bilateral Commitment to Security, Stability and Prosperity

The United States and the Sultanate of Oman share a strong bilateral relationship based on a joint commitment to the security, stability, and prosperity of the region. A hallmark of the enduring U.S.-Oman relationship is the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement, signed on January 19, 2006.  The Free Trade Agreement eliminates tariffs, reduces barriers for services, and protects intellectual property so that trade between the United States and Oman can further expand.  The Free Trade Agreement also helps Oman diversify its economy while bringing jobs and economic growth to both the United States and Oman.  Due in large part to the success of the Free Trade Agreement (927 KB), the United States imported $905 million in goods from Oman in 2015, making the United States the fourth-largest trading partner for Oman.

Bilateral Cooperation on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

U.S.-Omani economic cooperation also extends into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. On January 22, 2016, Oman and the United States signed the U.S.-Oman Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement. The Agreement formalizes ongoing efforts to strengthen scientific and technological U.S.-Omani cooperation in cutting-edge sectors of the modern economy. The Agreement provides additional opportunities for Oman to diversify its economy and encourage entrepreneurship while generating new research opportunities and partnerships for U.S. academic institutions.

Bilateral Coordination on Preventing Weapons Proliferation

Finally, the United States and Oman also regularly partner to promote regional security and stability through efforts to combat terrorism and prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In addition to strong military-to-military cooperation, Oman played a pivotal role in ensuring Iran’s nuclear program would be exclusively peaceful by facilitating negotiations that lead to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Oman has also played an important role in ongoing negotiations to end the conflict in Yemen by mediating discussions and advocating for a negotiated settlement.