AMMAN, Sept. 15 (Petra) – Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah said Jordan has reached an understanding with the United States that will keep more than 60 percent of Jordanian exports to the US market subject to zero tariffs, while the remaining exports will face an additional tariff of just 10 percent.

Speaking at the regular business breakfast hosted by the Jordanian Businessmen Association on Monday, Qudah said the rate is among the lowest imposed under the United States’ new tariff measures. He added that the arrangement preserves the competitive advantages of Jordanian exports and strengthens their market positioning in the US.

The minister said the apparel and garment sector secured full zero-tariff treatment, alongside key commodities including pharmaceuticals, fertilizers and phosphate, giving Jordanian products a clear competitive edge over those of many competing countries.

Qudah stressed that the new arrangement does not replace the Jordan-US Free Trade Agreement, but operates within its framework and is grounded in its provisions. The agreement remains in force and continues to provide the legal framework governing trade relations between the two countries.

He explained that the tariffs announced by the US are additional duties imposed on top of the standard customs duties applied to other countries. Jordan, meanwhile, continues to benefit from the exemptions provided under the free trade agreement, reinforcing the comparative advantage of national exports.

The minister noted that the government began negotiations with the US immediately after Washington announced its new tariff policy. The process involved a series of intensive meetings and negotiating rounds over several months, with the aim of safeguarding Jordan’s economic interests and maintaining the competitiveness of national products in the US market.

He said the negotiations took place amid rapidly changing developments, including successive US decisions and measures as well as legal and regulatory developments related to the implementation of tariffs. This required a flexible negotiating approach focused on maximizing economic gains while mitigating potential risks to Jordanian exports.

Qudah highlighted the apparel and garment sector as one of the main beneficiaries of the arrangement, noting that it retained full exemption from the additional tariffs at a time when exports from several competing countries are facing new duties. This, he said, strengthens the competitive position of Jordanian products and creates greater potential for expanding their market share in the United States.

He added that the positive impact of the agreement extends beyond the apparel sector to other industrial and export-oriented sectors that have retained their preferential advantages, supporting national exports and strengthening prospects for growth and expansion in international markets.

Qudah stressed that the government will continue working in partnership with the private sector to capitalize on these gains and build on them, contributing to higher national exports, attracting investment, and supporting economic growth in the coming period.

//Petra// WH