Saudi Arabia’s Accession to the WTO: Is a “Revolution” Brewing?
Middle East Policy Council Capitol Hill Conference Series on US Middle East Policy
Introduction by Ambassador Chas Freeman

The Saudi-US Relations Information Service (SUSRIS) has made available transcripts of the Middle East Policy Council’s recent conference on the subject of Saudi accession to the WTO. The panel was hosted by MEPC President Chas Freeman and included: William Clatanoff, Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for Labor; C. Christopher Parlin, Partner, Loeffler Tuggey Pauerstein Rosenthal, LLP; Robert Jordan, Former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Charles Kestenbaum, Former Regional Director, U.S. Dept. Of Commerce; and Jean-Francois Seznec, Adjunct Professor, Columbia University’s Middle East Institute.

Each of the speakers’ presentations, as well as a question-and-answer session following, is linked on the page with Amb. Freeman’s introduction. I recommend you take a look at it. Seznec’s comments about how petroleum offers distinct advantages within the Saudi economy are worth noting, as are more critical comments by Charlie Kastenbaum. Amb. Robert Jordan’s remarks on the process of getting the Saudis to accept the changes necessary for joining the WTO, as well as the expected benefits from the transparency that will be required, are certainly worth reading.