JSPES, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Spring 2006 )
pp. 13-52

United States Trade Relations with Muslim Countries

Baban Hasnat

The author provides a descriptive and analytic examination of the nature, magnitude, and structure of U.S. trade with Muslim countries. From the U.S. point of view, two-way trade with Muslim countries is small in dollar terms: the U.S. is a more critical market to Muslim countries than the imports from Muslim countries are to the U.S., except for oil and gas. The U.S. imports roughly one-third of its petroleum from Muslim countries, whereas its non-petroleum trade deficit with Muslim countries is only about $15 billion. Although trade disputes with Muslim countries are rare, and several Muslim countries benefit from free or preferential trade agreements with the U.S., the author lists others whose exports cannot compete in the U.S. market against rival producers under present U.S. trade policies.