Trade Agreements

Introduction

Free and Preferential Trade agreements between Egypt and the Arab countries

Comesa Agreement

EU Partnership Agreement


 

Free and Preferential Trade agreements between Egypt and the Arab countries

First: The Agreement with Lebanon

Second: The Agreement with Syria

Third: The Agreement with Morocco

Fourth: The Agreement with Tunisia

Fifth: The Agreement with Lybia

Sixth: The Agreement with Jordan

Seventh: The Agreement with Iraq

First: The Agreement with Lebanon
Duration Valid until terminated by either party.
Implementation This agreement enters into force after one month of the date of exchange of ratification documents according to the legislations in both countries.
Done on 10/9/1998.
Enforcement This agreement entered into force on 15/3/1999.
Exempted Goods Commodities of Egyptian and Lebanese origin
Exempted Egyptian Imports Commodities exempted during specific market windows for each individual commodity: apples, grapes and pears.
Commodities exempted all year round: Cherries.
Commodities liable to a 25% gradual reduction annually: All the products stated under exempted Egyptian exports.
Exempted Egyptian Exports Commodities exempted during specific market windows for each individual commodity: Potato, garlic, salt and water melon.
Commodities exempted all year round: guava, mango, dates and dried dates.
Commodities liable to a 25% gradual reduction annually: Dairy products, pineapple, kiwi fruit, avocado, papya, mineral water, gaseous water, varnish, paints, frozen vegetables, prepared vegetables, jams and    fruit juices.
Egyptian imports not exempted from tariff Textile, RMGs, automobiles, tobacco, alcoholic, beverages, poultry meat, cement, wires and cables.
Egyptian exports not exempted from tariffs Ceramics, home furnishings, textile, RMGs, tobacco, bulbs and cut flowers, taps and prepared poultry meat.
Preferential Privilege Products of Egyptian and Lebanese origin are exempted from tariffs, (Exemption Limit) fees and other charges of similar effect, as of 1/1/1999. 
Sales tax is calculated in Egypt and Lebanon for goods, to which the provisions of this present agreement are applicable, when imported according to the operative laws in both countries.

Second: The Agreement with Syria
Duration One year, automatically renewable
Implementation This agreement enters into force as of the date of exchange of ratification documents, according to the constitutional requirements observed in both countries.
Done on 19/7/1991.
Enforcement This agreement entered into force on 1/12/1991.
Exempted Goods Commodities of Egyptian and Syrian origin, as stated in the lists agreed upon.
Exempted Egyptian Imports Sheep, potato seeds, lentil, salted viscera, fruit trees’ transplants, barely, castrol seeds, bran, seed cakes, salt, cement, human medicines, raw wool, cotton lint, cotton yarn not prepared for retail sale, filters for the cement industry, printing machines and gear boxes for tractors.
Exempted Egyptian Exports Glucose, human medicines, inks, cotton yarn not prepared for retail trade, aromatic oils, aluminum sheets, tires, saws, razors, shaving instruments, handles, automobile filters, powder, frozen or liquid soup, plastic syringes, dyeing and finishing materials for the textile industry, carton materials for the textile industry, carton components and aluminum containers for filling with gases.  
Egyptian imports not exempted from tariff Data being prepared.
Egyptian exports not exempted from tariffs Data being prepared.
Preferential Privilege Commodities of Egyptian and Syrian origin aforementioned shall be exempted from tariffs and the related taxes (except for domestic and sales tax).

Third: The Agreement with Morocco
Duration Valid until terminated by either Side.
Implementation This agreement enters into force as of the date of exchange of ratification documents, according to the constitutional procedures in both countries.
Done on 27/5/1998.
Enforcement This agreement entered into force on 28/4/1999.
Exempted Goods Commodities of Egyptian and Moroccan origin.
Exempted Egyptian Imports Iron ores, copper ores, lead and zinc ores, vaccines, fishery products, whole milk powder, beans, lentil, prepared anchovy, table margarine, infant milk, tomato paste, fish powder, natural graphite, sugar industry waste, barium sulphate, cork and fibers.
Exempted Egyptian Exports White cement, ammonium nitrate, sodium sulphate, seeds of aromatic plants, tomato paste and ketchup, coke charcoal, gelatin, ceramic pricks, iron bars, sheets, crude aluminum, pumps, air conditioners, farm machinery, motors, vacuum cleaners, electric lamps and tubes, photocopying machines and buttons. 
Egyptian imports not exempted from tariff Poultry products, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and tobacco products, textile and RMGs, automobiles, iron or steel bars and sheets.
Egyptian exports not exempted from tariffs Powder, explosives and products of ferrocerbom, textile and RMGs, automobiles, tyres and iron or steel bars and sheets.
Preferential Privilege Tariffs, fees and taxes of similar effect, operative in both countries (Exemption Limit) on jan,1st 1997, shall be eliminated for commodities of Egyptian and Moroccan origin over a maximum period of 12 years according to a timetable. These tariffs, fees and taxes of similar effect are eliminated for the abovementioned commodities of Egyptian and Moroccan origin.    
Gradual reduction of tariffs, fees and taxes of similar effect on commodities of Egyptian and Moroccan origin shall take effect according to the following:- Commodities with tariff rate ranging between 0-25%, for which fees and other taxes are charged in both countries, shall be liable to an annual reduction until they become fully exempted in 5 years as of the date this agreement enters into force.
 Commodities to which a tariff rate of more than 25% is applicable, together with other fees and taxes in both countries, shall be liable to annual reduction rate for 5 years as of the date of enforcement,    according to the scheme stipulated in tables (3) & (4) attached to this  agreement to eventually reach a level of 25% inclusive of tariffs, fees and other taxes.
 After 5 years of enforcement, a time-frame shall be laid to liberalize   the remaining 25% rate over a maximum period of seven years, starting   from year six of this agreement’s enforcement.

Fourth: The Agreement with Tunisia
Duration Valid until terminated by either party.
Implementation This agreement is considered an integral part of the Free Trade Agreement concluded between Egypt and Tunisia on March, 5th 1998.
Done on 5/3/1998.
Enforcement This agreement entered into force on 15/3/1999.
Exempted Goods Commodities of Egyptian and Tunisian origin.
Exempted Egyptian Imports Olive oil, tomato paste, paper paste, child nutrition preparations, fungicides and pesticides for agricultural purposes, tyres, raw wool, paper, crystal and glass, steel wires, pipes and hoses, spraying machines, cooling rooms (units) ploughs, cement mixers, poultry-raising equipment, electric wires and fixtures, medical and surgery furniture, automobile spare parts.
Exempted Egyptian Exports Dried legumes, spices, rice, sugar molasses, human medicines, veterinary medicines, movie films, tyres, raw cotton, ceramic pricks, flat glass, aluminum, school books, spinning and weaving equipment, washing machines, pipes, dry batteries, electronic spare parts, railway compartments, musical instruments, fans, medical and surgery furniture, photocopying machines and tractors.
Egyptian imports not exempted from tariff Textile and manufactured textile products, shoes and shoe parts, ceramics, automobiles and lorries.
Egyptian exports not exempted from tariffs Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and tobacco products, textile and RMGs, automobiles.
Preferential Privilege Tariffs, fees and taxes of similar effect, operative in both countries (Exemption Limit)  on Jan., 1st, 1997, shall be eliminated for commodities of Egyptian and Tunisian origin over a period not exceeding Dec. 31st, 2007 (maximum), according to the following timetable:
 

The following gradual tariff, fee and tax reduction plan shall be implemented to commodities of Egyptian and Tunisian origin:
- Commodities with tariff fee and tax rate ranging between 0-20% shall   be reliable to an even annual reduction to eventually become fully exempted after 5 years from date of agreement enforcement.
- Commodities liable to tariffs, fees and other taxes of more than 20% shall be reliable to an even annual reduction until they become fully exempted no later than December 2007.
- Lists (3) & (4) specify commodities to be considered, for a reduction scheme in the future, by the joint committee.
- In exception to the provisions of Article (2), trade in agricultural commodities will be studied later according to the provisions of the coordinated tariff stipulated in chapters 1-24.
 

Fifth: The Agreement with Lybia
Duration 5 years renewable automatically
Implementation This  agreement enters into force as of the date of exchange of the ratification documents.  Done on December, 3rd 1990.
Enforcement This agreement entered into force on 18/6/1991.
Exempted Goods Commodities and products of domestic origin.
Exempted Egyptian Imports Resins and artificial plastics, cellular esterates.
Exempted Egyptian Exports Textile materials and manufactured textile products, foodstuff products. 
Egyptian imports not exempted from tariff All commodities are exempted.
Egyptian exports not exempted from tariffs All commodities are exempted.
Preferential Privilege Exempting goods of domestic origin from tariffs and taxes applied in both countries, in accordance with the provisions of this agreement and foreign trade regulations in both countries.

Sixth: The Agreement with Jordan
Duration Valid until terminated by either party.
Implementation When ratified, this agreement shall replace the Free Trade Zone Agreement concluded in May 1996. This agreement enters into force as of the date of exchange of ratification documents according to the operative legislations in both countries.
Done on December 10th 1998.
Enforcement This agreement entered into force on 21/12/1998.
Exempted Goods A gradual reduction, and not exemption, of tariffs, fees and taxes has been agreed upon, on goods of Jordanian and Egyptian origin.
Exempted Egyptian Imports Transport equipment and metal products.
Exempted Egyptian Exports Plant products, minerals and mineral products and chemical industry’s products.
Egyptian imports not exempted from tariff Textile and RMGs, automobiles, tobacco and tobacco alternatives, construction steel, edible salt, tomato paste and mineral water.
Egyptian exports not exempted from tariffs All commodities previously stated under the Egyptian imports.
Preferential Privilege a) It has been agreed upon that the two parties will gradually establish a free trade area no later than with the provision of this agreement and with WTO Founding Agreement. 
Tariffs, fees and taxes of similar effect shall be reduced for commodities of Jordanian and Egyptian origin, according to the following scheme:
25% in year one, as of 1/1/1999.
40% in year two, as of 1/1/2000.
55% in year three, as of 1/1/‏2001.
70% in year four, as of 1/1/2002.
80% in year five, as of 1/1/2003.
90% in year six, as of 1/1/2004.
100% in year seven, as of 1/1/2005. 
b) Without prejudice to the provision of paragraph (a) above, commodities that are not liable to the gradual exemption scheme are hereby excluded.
 

Seventh: The Agreement with Iraq
Duration Valid until terminated by either party .
Implementation This protocol enters into force as of date of  exchange of ratification documents, in accordance with  the operative legal procedures in both countries. 
Done on 18/1/2001.
Enforcement This agreement entered into force on 8/7/2001.
Exempted Goods Commodities of Egyptian and Iraqi origin.
Exempted Egyptian Imports --
Exempted Egyptian Exports --
Egyptian imports not exempted from tariff --
Egyptian exports not exempted from tariffs --
Preferential Privilege --
        
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