The treaties with Lithuania, Croatia, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan will help those countries make the transition to market economies, she said. The other treaties getting approval October 18 were with Bolivia, El Salvador, Honduras and Mozambique. An amendment to an existing treaty with Panama was also approved. The treaties are with Bahrain, Jordan, Bolivia, El Salvador, Honduras, Lithuania, Croatia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Mozambique. An amendment to a BIT with Panama was also approved.
BITs are critical to our larger efforts to promote trade and protect U.S. investment overseas.
These investment treaties are part of this Administration's efforts to build stronger economic relationships in quite different, but equally important, areas of the world. The Bahrain BIT is the first signed with a Gulf nation. This BIT and the Jordan BIT are part of a series of steps to strengthen and diversify America's commercial relationship with the Middle East. These BITs will offer additional confidence in Bahrain and Jordan as centers of business and trade in this region, reinforcing our shared commitment to peace and stability in this region. The Lithuania, Croatia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan treaties are decisive steps forward in building a solid foundation for our trade and investment relations with economies in transition.