Ghali asks US customs authorities to ease flow of Egyptian exports in US ports
Egypt-USA, Economics, 3/6/2002

Egyptian Foreign Trade Minister Youssef Ghali discussed with US Senior officials means to overcome some of the hurdles that have been facing Egyptian export shipments in US seaports since Sept. 11 events.

In the aftermath of the kamikaze attacks, US customs authorities have been thoroughly inspecting shipments coming from a number of countries, including Egypt, and charging the American importer for the cost of such inspection which increases the total cost of importing commodities from Egypt.

Ghali underlined during the meetings the importance of working out objective and practical solutions to ease the stringent inspection process.

He proposed a number of alternatives, including a thorough inspection of shipments at Egyptian seaports before exporting them to the American market.

In a press statement he issued yesterday in Washington, Ghali reiterated Egypt's readiness to welcome American customs experts to do the job.

The two sides agreed during the meeting on a number of temporary measures to be taken by the two countries to ease flow of Egyptian exports into American markets and the swift clearance of shipments from American ports.

Some of the proposed measures are that American customs build data bases on Egyptian exporters and American importers who regularly do business in both markets and making available to American customs authorities data about Egyptian shipments before their arrival at the US ports to help speed up search and handling procedures.

The two countries also agreed on appointing an American customs official who will be responsible to intervene to solve any problem facing any Egyptian exporter in American ports.

The official will work in tandem with the trade representation office in Washington.

Ghali had met recently with Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans and US trade representative Robert Zoellick within his visit to Washington.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt calls for opening more US markets before Egyptian products   (3/5/2002)
  USAID director: No change in US aid program to Egypt   (3/2/2002)
  Volume of trade between Egypt and US is 4 billion dollars   (2/27/2002)

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