Oman liberalised its markets in an effort to accede to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and gained membership in 2000. The Director of the Sultanate of Oman's delegation to the WTO is Hilda alHinai. Further, on 20 July 2006 the Congress approved the USOman Free Trade took effect on 1 January 2009, eliminating tariff barriers on all consumer and industrial products.