In this context, the Agreements and Foreign Trade Sector plays a pivotal role in proposing and drafting laws and decisions governing export and import activities, and in following up on their implementation in a manner that facilitates and regulates Egypt's foreign trade, both exports and imports.
These policies aim to place Egypt's trade exchanges with various countries of the world on a sustainable growth path, in line with Egypt Vision 2030 and the State's general policies. They seek to meet the needs of production and consumption sectors, contribute to enhancing annual GDP growth rates, and positively reflect on sustainable development indicators in the medium and long term.
These negotiations cover a number of key areas, including market access for trade in goods and services, trade facilitation, protection of intellectual property rights, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and WTO rules.
Egypt also regularly participates in meetings of the WTO councils and specialized committees, with the aim of monitoring the accuracy and soundness of the application of its rules and provisions, and fulfilling the obligations arising therefrom. These rules constitute the core of the trade policy of member states, including Egypt.
These agreements enable Egyptian exports to access markets with more than 1.5 billion consumers worldwide. They contribute to diversifying sources of imports, particularly production inputs and capital goods, reducing reliance on a single market, encouraging investment, and supporting productive integration with partner countries.
Trade agreements provide customs exemptions and tariff reductions for traded goods in accordance with the applicable rules of origin, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian products in foreign markets as well as in the domestic market. They also contribute to attracting foreign investment seeking to benefit from the preferential advantages granted under these agreements.
In this context, efforts are undertaken to manage trade negotiations at the bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels, in order to achieve greater market access, enhance trade in goods and services, and expand other forms of economic cooperation.
This aims to achieve balance in the trade balance, increase Egyptian exports, and improve the efficiency of the foreign trade system. The Import and Export Law promulgated by Law No. 118 of 1975, and the Executive Regulations of the Import and Export Law issued by Ministerial Decree No. 770 of 2005, are among the most important legislations governing import and export operations.
Within this framework, measures are proposed and implemented to facilitate trade flows, reduce clearance times, and alleviate burdens on exports and imports, in accordance with Egypt's international commitments and global best practices.
At the same time, the implementation of trade policy instruments is continuously monitored and developed in line with emerging developments and changes at both the domestic and international levels.
