Georgia-USA negotiate free trade deal

Georgia has begun to negotiate a free trade deal with the United States.

Georgia’s Speaker of Parliament made the announcement on a talk-show on a local television Tabula yesterday. He said the move was encouraged following the successful visit of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to the United States.

The interviewer asked David Usupashvili about the outcomes of the various meetings in America, and noted one of the aims was to deepen economic and trade relations. She claimed US President Barack Obama started to talk about free trade with Georgia two years ago, in the times of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Usupashvili replied that for the first time for Georgia, very high US officials were "thankful and pleased” Georgian leader talked efficiently on business and did not act the way the previous leader did while discussing this topic.

"Garibashvili brought real business negotiations from the USA about free trade and economic relations, which have only started now,” Usupashvili said.

He also stressed that until now, all such talks were only a PR move of the previous Government and no real negotiation took place.