Agreements between economic operators of the Parties and abuse of a dominant position by economic operators of the Contracting Parties are incompatible with the Agreement where they affect trade between the EFTA States and Egypt (Article 31). The EU-Egypt Association Agreement has been in force since 2004. It creates a free trade area between the EU and Egypt by abolishing tariffs on industrial products and facilitating trade in agricultural products. Describes the bilateral and multilateral trade agreements in which this country participates, including with the United States. The agreement provides for effective market access for industrial products with regard to customs duties and rules of origin, which virtually creates EU parity for EFTA exports to Egypt. Until 1 January 2020, almost all industrial products originating in the EFTA States have duty-free access to Egypt (Article 6 and Annex IV). Egyptian exports to the EFTA States shall be exempt from customs duties from the entry into force of the Agreement. The European Union has concluded free trade agreements (FTAs) with many countries of the world[1] and others with a trade component and negotiates with many others. [2] A Joint Committee composed of representatives of the EFTA States and Egypt monitors and manages the application of the Agreement (Articles 37 and 38). The Parties may hold consultations and, in the absence of agreement, apply interim measures (Articles 39 and 40). Since 2001, the European Union has concluded a preferential trade agreement with Egypt, which it wants to improve as part of a comprehensive free trade agreement between the EU and the Mediterranean.
The Agreement applies to trade in fish and other seafood products (Article 4(c) and Annex II). The EFTA States grant duty-free access to imports of all Egyptian fishery products. As regards EFTA exports to Egypt, the Agreement provides for a reduction in customs duties under the quotas from the entry into force of the Agreement. Quotas for certain products shall be abolished six years after the entry into force of the Agreement. The Contracting Parties shall provide for the complete elimination of customs duties on all fish and seafood products within fourteen years of the entry into force of the Agreement. In June 2013, the EU and Egypt started discussions on a Comprehensive and Deep Free Trade Agreement. Negotiations on trade in services are currently frozen. The agreement covers trade in industrial products, including fish and other seafood products, as well as processed agricultural products.
[82] Another agreement on agricultural products, processed agricultural products and fishery products entered into force on June 1, 2010. In 2004, Egypt signed the Agadir Agreement with Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. This agreement removes all trade tariffs between them and harmonizes their rules on product standards and customs. The main objective of the Agreement (Objectives, Article 1) is the liberalization of trade in goods in accordance with Article XXIV of GATT 1994. . . .