31.   Similar accords previously had been signed with Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

32.   Switzerland actually completed negotiations with Washington several months ago, but wanted to wait before signing it until three EU members had reached similar accords.

33.   South Korean Foreign Minister Park Chung-soo also initialed similar accords with his counterparts from Guatemala and Nicaragua, both in Seoul to strengthen economic ties.

34.   The deal, which will be signed formally in a few months, comes two years after a similar accord with Mexico.

35.   The European body has similar accords with Jordan, Tunisia, Israel, Morocco and the Palestinian Authority and is also currently negotiating with Egypt, Algeria and Lebanon.

36.   The EU is holding talks on similar accords with Egypt, Morocco and Israel and expects to start talks soon with Jordan and Lebanon.

37.   The deal comes two years after a similar accord with Mexico.

38.   The EU-Israel deal was preceded this year by similar accords with Tunisia and Morocco.

39.   The French and Belgian bank agreements come after Brazil had reached similar accords with U.S., Canadian, German, Dutch, Swiss, and British banks.

40.   He is hoping to conclude a deal with Qatar to open economic representation offices and finalise a similar accord with Oman.