Egypt
Under George Bush’s administration, in 2003, the US Trade Representative is said to have ’punished’ Egypt by suspending all overtures towards an FTA when Egypt withdrew its support for a US dispute against the European Union on trade in genetically modified crops at the WTO. This lasted until late 2004, when the overtures started picking up again. However, the US froze FTA talks after allegations of fraud and corruption surrounding Egypt’s December 2005 elections and they have not restarted since.
In the meantime, the US brokered a deal between Egypt and Israel to set up a ’qualifying industrial zone’ between the two countries, which angered both Egyptians and Arab neighbours. In 2009, under Obama’s administration, US and Egyptian trade officials signed a Plan for a Strategic Partnership which pledged to follow “a program of intensified U.S.-Egyptian cooperation on economic, trade, and investment issues”. But there have been no substantive moves towards negotiating a bilateral FTA between the two countries.
The European Union has had a preferential trade agreement with Egypt since 2001, which it hopes to upgrade in the process of achieving a fullblown EU-Mediterranean FTA.
Egypt signed a bilateral FTA with Turkey in December 2005, and another with EFTA in 2007. In 2010 it signed an FTA with Mercosur. Regionally, it is party to the Agadir Agreement, GAFTA and COMESA. Cairo is currently negotiating or considering FTAs with Russia, India and Indonesia.
last update: May 2012
Articles
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18-Jan-2012 Reuters Trade minister: Egypt open to trade talks with US
Egypt’s trade minister on Tuesday courted badly needed US investment with a promise Cairo would maintain open markets, and said the Egyptian government was open to pursuing free trade talks with the United States. -
15-Dec-2011 Reuters Lawmaker urges US pursue trade pact with Egypt
A top Republican lawmaker urged President Barack Obama’s administration on Wednesday to pursue trade talks with Egypt to help shape the nascent democracy after a tumultuous year. -
25-Jul-2010 Global Arab Network Egypt establishing free trade area with Latin American
Egypt will sign next week a free trade agreement with the Latin American Grouping Mercosur, according to Minister of Trade & Industry Rasheed Mohamed Rasheed. -
21-Jun-2010 Afrik.com Un accord de libre-échange entre l’Egypte et le MERCOSUR
Le ministre égyptien du Commerce et de l’Industrie a annoncé, mercredi au Caire, la signature en juillet prochain d’un accord de libre-échange entre l’Egypte et la communauté économique des pays de l’Amérique du Sud (MERCOSUR) -
9-Jun-2010 Egypt boosts Swiss trade relations as euro weakens
Egypt is looking to mitigate the negative short-term effects of the weakening euro by diversifying its trade partners and increasing volumes with members of the European Free Trade Association, the country’s trade minister said. -
15-Apr-2010 Reuters Egypt, Mercosur to complete free trade agreement in July
Egypt expects to complete free trade negotiations with the four Mercosur countries — Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay — in July, Egypt’s trade minister said on Wednesday. -
19-Mar-2010 Reuters US Trade Rep looking to increase trade with Egypt
US Trade Representative Ron Kirk will travel to Egypt next week for talks with a key Arab ally that has long wanted a free trade agreement with the United States. -
15-Mar-2010 Reuters Egypt, Russia press ahead for free trade agreement
Officials from Egypt and Russia will meet in Cairo in July to continue negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two countries -
8-Sep-2009 The Peninsula Egypt seeks to expand US trade zones
Egypt has asked the United States to expand preferential trade industrial export zones in southern Egypt, but a bilateral free trade deal is “off the table” for now, Trade Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid said yesterday. -
28-May-2009 USTR Joint statement of USTR and Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry
The US and Egypt have signed a "Plan for a Strategic Partnership" to develop bilateral trade and investment -
28-May-2009 Dow Jones US, Egypt aim to bolster trade and investment ties
US and Egyptian officials signed agreements Wednesday aimed at strengthening trade and investment links between the two nations, a move that comes a week ahead of a trip to Egypt by US President Barack Obama. -
4-Feb-2009 bt Uncertainty over hope
Egypt has never been a major trading partner for the US, and after a Free Trade Agreement between the two failed to get off the ground during the previous two administrations, the question now is whether Obama’s team will be open to new negotiations or whether Egypt should focus its efforts more narrowly. -
16-Apr-2008 Angola Press L’Egypte et l’Inde discutent d’un accord de libre-échange
L’Egypte et l’Inde ont entamé des discussions sur un accord de libre-échange entre les deux pays dits émergents, New-Delhi considéré globalement comme un hub de la technologie, espérant améliorer à partir du Caire son accès au marché africain -
15-Apr-2008 Hindu Bussiness Line Egypt to discuss FTA with India
Egypt on Tuesday said it would explore the possibility of a Free Trade Agreement with India to boost trade and investment between the two countries. -
8-Oct-2007 IHT Egypt, Israel to amend trade agreement
Egypt and Israel have agreed to reduce the percentage of Israeli components that must be included in Egyptian-made products that receive duty-free status when exported to the United States -
1-Aug-2007 swissinfo Entra en vigor un doble acuerdo entre Suiza y Egipto
Un texto bilateral en materia agrícola, y un TLC negociado entre el país norteafricano y el bloque EFTA, que dinamizará las exportaciones helvéticas -
16-Mar-2007 Washington Post US stokes new hope of free trade deal with Egypt
US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said on Thursday he believed Egypt and the United States were destined to negotiate a free trade agreement, reviving hopes of a deal dashed many times. -
7-Mar-2007 European Commission EU-Egypt: European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan adopted
The 3rd EU-Egypt Association Council has adopted the EU-Egypt Action Plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy which will set the agenda for the EU-Egypt cooperation for the next 3-5 years. With the adoption of this Action Plan, Egypt and the EU agree to enter into intensified political, security, economic, trade, investment, scientific, technological and cultural relations. -
9-Feb-2007 Al-Ahram Still allies, more or less
The issue of an Egyptian-American free trade agreement figured prominently on the agenda of talks between Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Rashid Mohamed Rashid and US Deputy Secretary of Commerce David Sampson last week. -
17-Jan-2007 Al-Ahram Hebdo L’union fait-elle la force ?
Egypte-turquie. L’accord de libre-échange signé entre les deux pays en décembre 2005 entre en application le mois prochain. Si les consommateurs semblent s’en réjouir, certains producteurs manifestent de vives inquiétudes. Explications.
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Egypt FTAs
Egypt’s preferential and free trade agreements
