i realize this turkey-syria-lebanon-jordan free trade zone will probably never happen, and if it does it will take years to be negotiated, ratified and enacted by all four countries. and i realize that free trade agreements really aren't as "free" as most people imagine (all you need to do is see how long and detailed the text of these treaties are to realize it isn't about eliminating all trade barriers as much as rejiggering the existing ones to make them more favorable to trade).
but putting that all aside, let's say this new trade union does actually happen. the u.s. already has a free trade agreement with jordan. wouldn't a free trade zone that includes both jordan and syria be a massive loophole in any american sanction regime against syria?
