ABSTRACT
The inclusion of this chapter does not imply that U.S. high-technology trade with the Middle East is a consequence, either in total volume or sectoral composition, of official U.S. policy. Although various policies, both restrictive and promotional, influence U.S. trade with the region to a greater extent than they do trade with other market economy countries, the majority of traded goods and services flow in response to effective market demand and export competitiveness. This is the case even with respect to high-technology trade, which for a combination of security and foreign policy reasons tends to be more constrained than trade in basic commodities. The obvious exceptions are trade in nuclear technology, equipment and materials, and in certain types of commercial aircraft to particular Middle Eastern countries. These controls, and their apparent impact on U.S. high-technology trade in the region, are discussed below.
