Jordan and US Boost Apparel Export Competitiveness in Washington 2026

Key Points

• Strategic Trade Dialogue: Jordanian Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Yarub Qudah, led high-level bilateral discussions with American apparel sector representatives in Washington, D.C.
• AAFA Hosting: The economic session was hosted at the invitation of Nate Herman, Executive Vice President of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA).
• High-Level Delegation: Attended by Jordan’s Ambassador to the United States, Dina Kawar, alongside representative of the leather and garment industries sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, Ehab Al-Qadri, and delegates from the Jordanian Association of Garments and Textiles Exporters.
• Strong Trade Figures: Jordanian apparel exports to the United States surpassed JD 1.5 billion (approximately $2.1 billion) in the previous year, demonstrating continued positive momentum.
• FTA Maximisation: The discussions focused heavily on enhancing supply chain efficiency, leveraging the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and strictly complying with international labor and environmental standards.

Washington, D.C. (Evening Washington News) July 21, 2026 — Jordan’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Yarub Qudah, held strategic economic discussions with leading executive representatives of the United States apparel and footwear sector in Washington, focusing on boosting export competitiveness, eliminating supply chain barriers, and attracting foreign direct investment. The development comes as Jordan seeks to consolidate its position as a primary textile manufacturing hub in the Middle East, leveraging its long-standing bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States.

How Did the High-Level Washington Meeting Unfold?

As reported by official correspondents for the Jordan News Agency (Petra) and Ammon News, the discussions took place during a specialized round-table session hosted in the U.S. capital by the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA).

The session was formally convened at the invitation of Nate Herman, Executive Vice President of the AAFA, bringing together senior Jordanian policymakers, global industry investors, and executive leadership from prominent American fashion and apparel corporations.

The official delegation from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was led by Minister Yarub Qudah and included Her Excellency Dina Kawar, Jordan’s Ambassador to the United States.

Representing the domestic manufacturing base were Ehab Al-Qadri, representative of the leather and garment industries sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, alongside leadership from the Jordanian Association of Garments and Textiles Exporters and key private-sector manufacturing executives.

During the panel, Minister Yarub Qudah reiterated Jordan’s unwavering commitment to expanding its bilateral economic partnership with the United States.

Qudah explicitly called upon American commercial enterprises to explore the investment ecosystem in Jordan and to optimize the preferential terms granted under the Jordan–U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

What Specific Measures Were Discussed to Facilitate Garment Trade?

According to reporting published by Jordan News, Minister Qudah addressed operational strategies aimed at streamlining export logistics and trade mechanisms between the two nations.

The minister outlined concrete administrative and policy measures designed to optimize the flow of Jordanian garment and textile shipments into American ports, ensuring that local manufacturers retain their competitive edge in high-volume retail markets.

The agenda centered heavily on supply chain resiliency, input costs, and logistics coordination. Discussions covered:

• Streamlining Customs and Administrative Procedures: Reducing delays in export processing and entry procedures for Jordanian goods into the U.S. market.
• Supply Chain Optimization: Developing robust, uninterrupted shipping routes and local manufacturing networks to buffer against global supply shocks.
• Compliance with Global Labor Standards: Ensuring strict adherence to international labor laws, fair wage practices, and responsible production frameworks, which remain essential criteria for major American retailers.

As reported by Petra News, the delegates addressed the continuous evolution of global retail mandates, stressing that compliance with labor and environmental regulations is pivotal for maintaining the Kingdom’s strong market share in North America.

What Do Trade Figures Reveal About Jordan’s Garment Exports?

Highlighting the scale of the sector, Ehab Al-Qadri, representative of the leather and garment industries sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, provided commercial figures illustrating the trade relationship. As cited by Ammon News, Al-Qadri stated that:

“Jordanian apparel exports to the United States surpassed JD 1.5 billion (around $2.1 billion) last year, with continued positive growth recorded during the current year.”

Al-Qadri emphasized that the sustained expansion of garment exports reflects the high technical quality of Jordanian-manufactured products, as well as the deep commercial confidence that American brands and retail chains place in Jordan’s domestic manufacturing environment.

In response, executive representatives from participating U.S. companies acknowledged the distinct advantages of operating and sourcing from Jordan.

Representatives highlighted the country’s strategic location, modern industrial infrastructure, logistics platforms, and competitive manufacturing workforce, expressing strong corporate interest in expanding commercial partnerships and sourcing contracts with Jordanian textile units.

Background of the Bilateral Apparel Trade Framework

The commercial trade ties between Jordan and the United States are grounded in the historic Jordan–U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed in October 2000 and fully implemented in 2010. The FTA was the first bilateral trade deal the United States concluded with an Arab country, granting duty-free and quota-free access to a wide array of goods, provided they meet strict rules of origin requirements.

Prior to the implementation of the FTA, total bilateral trade was modest, with Jordanian exports to the U.S. standing at approximately $60 million annually. Over the past two decades, the garment and textile industry emerged as the cornerstone of Jordan’s manufacturing export drive, accounting for the vast majority of goods shipped to North American markets.

Industrial zones across Jordan—such as those in Al-Hassan, Tajamouat, and Dulayl—have attracted significant foreign direct investment, establishing Jordan as a reliable manufacturing hub for worldwide apparel brands.

In recent years, the sector has worked closely with international monitoring bodies, including the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Better Work Jordan program, to maintain high compliance standards regarding worker welfare, labor conditions, and factory operations.

This proactive stance on ethical production has helped Jordan maintain a distinct advantage over competing manufacturing destinations.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Stakeholders and Industry

The Washington discussions and ongoing policy alignment between Jordan’s Ministry of Industry and the AAFA are expected to generate several strategic impacts across key commercial sectors:

• For Jordanian Textile Manufacturers and Exporters: Streamlining supply chains and addressing non-tariff administrative obstacles will directly reduce operational costs and lead times. This will allow factories in Amman, Irbid, and Zarqa to handle larger order volumes from major American apparel buyers, enhancing profit margins and encouraging capital reinvestment into automated technology.
• For the Domestic Labor Force and Local Economy: Sustained growth in garment exports—which currently hover around $2.1 billion annually—will safeguard thousands of existing manufacturing jobs while creating new technical employment opportunities. Increased industrial throughput will also generate positive spillover effects for domestic logistics, packaging, and transport providers.
• For U.S. Brands and Retailers: Deepening partnerships with Jordanian factories offers American apparel companies a highly stable, duty-free alternative to East Asian manufacturing hubs. The commitment to strict labor and environmental standards mitigates reputational and regulatory risks for U.S. brands seeking responsible, ethically sound supply chains.
• For Foreign and Regional Investors: The proactive backing of the government, combined with stable market entry under the FTA, reinforces Jordan’s image as an attractive destination for foreign capital in high-value manufacturing, encouraging new industrial ventures within the Kingdom’s specialized economic zones.