U.S.-Georgia FTA to have a net positive effect for both countries, FM David Zalkaliani says

The Hill published an article by Brock Bierman, a visiting fellow for Democracy Initiatives at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, with the headline “Give Georgia a free trade agreement.”

The author says that amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the US focuses on Europe’s immediate security needs and considers economic tools we have available to build resilience in countries under threat and strengthen American ties in the region — particularly in Georgia where Russian troops currently occupy 20 percent of its territory.

According to the article, the majority of Georgians support deeper integration with the West. Now is the exact time for the U.S. to take a specific concrete action that will help Georgia build a stronger economy: establish a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).

Bierman recalls the conversation with Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani who said: “An FTA with Georgia would instantly increase U.S. soft power beyond Georgian borders, avoiding increased tensions [in the South Caucasus], building economic resilience, well-being and bilateral trade. History has proven the effectiveness of bilaterally beneficial trade, and we are sure a U.S.-Georgia FTA will have a net positive effect for both countries.”

Brock Bierman claims that an FTA with Georgia would have immediate economic impact — as well as long-term benefits for both Georgia’s democratic trajectory and American strategic interests. It would boost the value of the Georgian Lari overnight, spur private sector investment, and demonstrably counter Russian disinformation narratives that the United States is an uninterested and unreliable partner in the region. It would also strengthen Georgia’s regional leadership, which would have collateral benefits.