This is the result of highly developed economic cooperation between the two countries and the fact that Croatia is included in the US Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).
Given that the United States in August launched the issue of continuing the implementation of the GSP (which includes 133 countries) and that the US Embassy had informed the Croatian Economy Ministry that the US was considering revoking the preference for Croatia and other countries, the Economy Ministry submitted arguments to the United States confirming it was necessary to extend the preference period for Croatia.
Ambassador Bradtke said the Economy Ministry had prepared quality arguments and information that would be useful in adopting the final decision. The US Congress is expected to make the decision by the end of the year.
Bradke said the US companies wanted to intensify investments in Croatia.
In 2005 Croatia exported USD305.1 million in goods to the United States, which is 44.5 percent more than the year before. In the same period imports from the United States amounted to USD397.6 million or 11 percent more than in 2004.
In the first half of this year Croatia's exports to the United States amounted to 163 million dollars or 31 percent more than in 2005, while imports amounted to 161 million or 12 percent less than in the same period the year before.
The two countries' overall trade last year amounted to 702.7 million dollars.