U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan

**U.S. Assistance to Azerbaijan** U.S. Government assistance to Azerbaijan aims to encourage reforms that promote the development of democratic institutions and processes, sustainable economic growth, as well as promote regional stability, peace, and prosperity. **Bilateral Economic Relations** The United States and Azerbaijan have a Trade Relations Agreement and a Bilateral Investment Treaty. The governments periodically convene the U.S.-Azerbaijan Economic Partnership Commission to discuss bilateral cooperation to promote trade and investment. The United States has long supported Azerbaijan’s efforts to develop and export its energy resources to Western markets, and crude oil is its single largest import from Azerbaijan. U.S. companies are involved in offshore oil development projects in Azerbaijan, export aircraft and heavy machinery to Azerbaijan, and have been exploring emerging investment opportunities in telecommunications and other fields. The Law on Protection of Foreign Investments permits foreign direct investment in any activity in which a national investor may also invest, unless otherwise prohibited by law, which include those relating to national security and defense. Azerbaijan has been designated as a beneficiary country under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, under which a range of products that Azerbaijan might seek to export are eligible for duty-free entry to the United States. The GSP program provides an incentive for investors to produce in Azerbaijan and export selected products duty-free to the U.S. market. **Azerbaijan’s Membership in International Organizations** Azerbaijan and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. Azerbaijan also is an observer to the Organization of American States and the World Trade Organization and a participant in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Partnership for Peace program.