"The free trade agreement reinforces Bahrain’s (Michael’s new home) regional leadership in economic and government reforms.

"I am pleased this legislation was enacted quickly and received the broad bipartisan support it deserved," he added.

Bahrain becomes the third country in the Middle East, after Morocco and Jordan, to have signed such an agreement.

The agreement makes Bahrain one of the few nations in the Middle East to have such a relationship with the US.

The Senate approved the agreement last month by a unanimous voice vote, a week after the House of Representatives approved the measure by a vote of 327 to 95.

Attending the signing ceremony were US Trade Representative Rob Portman, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick and Bahrain’s Ambassador to Washington Nasser bin Mohammed Al Balooshi.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=132399&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28298