Side Letter on Marketing Approval of Pharmaceutical Products

Washington, October 24, 2000

Dear Madam Ambassador:

I have the honor to confirm receipt of your letter which reads as follows:

Dear Mr. Deputy Prime Minister:

In connection with the signing on this date of the Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area Between the Government of the United States of America and the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (the "Agreement"), I have the honor to confirm the understanding reached by our Governments as follows:

1. With regard to the processing of the pending applications for marketing approval of pharmaceutical products in the Jordanian Ministry of Health, the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan affirms that no marketing approval for pharmaceutical products shall be granted unless the application for such marketing approval is in full conformity with the requirements of the Agreement.

2. The Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan further affirms that the Jordanian Ministry of Health will process within 30 days of the entry into force of the Agreement the pending applications for marketing approval using the standards established in the Agreement as the basis for acting on these applications.

I have the honor to further propose that this understanding be treated as an integral part of the Agreement. I would be grateful if you would confirm that this understanding is shared by your Government.

I have the further honor to confirm that the foregoing understanding is shared by my Government and constitutes an integral part of the Agreement.

Sincerely,

Mohammad Halaiqah

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

The Honorable Charlene Barshefsky

United States Trade Representative

United States of America