The total trade in goods and services between the two was worth £561 million in 2020 and they will now seek to expand these links.
Welcoming the agreement, the UK’s Minister for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, said: “As we celebrate 100 years of UK-Jordan friendship, today’s new UK-Jordan trade agreement is an important step forward for our countries which will provide a boost to British and Jordanian businesses and ensure that friendship continues to grow and flourish.”
Major items exported to Jordan include: general industrial machinery, mechanical power generators, vehicles, medicinal and pharmaceutical products.
UK imports from the Middle Eastern country include mechanical power generators, vegetables, metal ores, clothing and general industrial machinery.
The Jordan-UK Association Agreement was signed on 5 November 2019. A Jordanian Royal Decree was issued on 25 February 2021 and the Jordanian government confirmed on 1 March that all their procedures been completed.
The UK Government then confirmed that all its procedures have been completed enabling the Agreement to enter into force on 1 May 2021.
Mr Cleverley confirmed that positive trade agreements and partnerships had been agreed across a variety of sectors including education, aviation, retail, biometrics and technology.
“We are working with the Jordanian government to overcome some of the structural issues that prevent greater FDI [foreign direct investment] into Jordan,” he said.