Intensified calls for Arab boycott trigger controversies
Regional-USA, Politics, 5/8/2002

There have been calls for boycotting US commodities in order to bring pressure to bear on the United States for its support of the savage Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

On the other hand, economists and businessmen expressed their view that this boycott could cause much damage to the Egyptian economy.

They indicated that Egyptian exports to the US market would come to a virtual halt and that Egypt's imports of spare parts, engines, and medium investment commodities from the United States would also come to a stop.

Moreover, they said under international commercial agreements such as GATT, the boycott could be interpreted as an infringement upon its provisions.

Therefore, it can be said that the popular call for boycott of US commodities is an expression of anger, they noted.

Reports indicate that as calls have been heard for applying an all-out boycott of US companies and halting the importation of any engineering equipment, commodities and medicines, nobody can ignore the fact that these calls have already caused a drop in US companies' sales, not only in Egypt, but also in some Arab states as a result of the intensified calls for boycott on the Internet and mobile phones.

This has pushed some US companies to change their names into Arab or Egyptian names.

Experts say that the Arab boycott is considered, in spite of all agreements, as the strongest method that reflects anger against the US policy. They say this boycott is like Arab unanimity on boycotting Israel, in spite of the peace agreement signed between Egypt and Israel twenty years ago.

However, experts say there is no disagreement on boycotting Israel, but that there are many dimensions which should be taken into account in boycotting US commodities.

They said the value of Arab foreign trade amounted to $ 314,6 billion in the year 2000, nearly 2.7 percent of the volume of the world commodity trade which amounted to $ 11,328 billion, of which Arab exports accounted for $ 162 billion. Arab imports also accounted for $ 151.7 billion.

A report drawn up by Ahmed Goweili, Secretary-General of the Arab Economic Unity Council, indicates that the Arab exports are focused on petroleum which accounts for 68 per cent of the aggregate Arab exports.

The report indicates that it is difficult to use oil embargo as a weapon to pressure the United States, except in the case of unanimity by all oil producing countries, including the Arab ones.

Goweili noted that the Arab states import half of their needs from the United States and the European Union, whereas the volume of inter-Arab trade does not exceed $ 27 billion.

He said as the volume of trade exchanged among Arab states is moderate, the volume of Egyptian imports from the United States in the year 2000 exceeded $ 2208 million, whereas Egypt's imports from the Arab states scored $ 1465 million. Egypt's imports from the United States account for 15.6 per cent of its total imported commodities, Goweili said.

Moustafa Saeed, Chairman of the International Trade Point at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, said that Egypt's exports to the United States in the year 2000 amounted to $ 41 million, nearly 9 percent of the Egyptian exports as a whole.

Khaled Abu Ismail, Chairman of the General Federation of the Chambers of Commerce said that the popular support of the Palestinian cause is agreed on by all quarters.

Ismail noted that the Federation decided to boycott all establishments with which Israel is dealing.

He called for differentiating between boycotting purely US commodities and Egyptian products with US trademarks, saying the latter were produced by Egyptian investments and by Egyptian labor and hence they should not be boycotted.

Ismail said that the Federation has called for rationalizing importation from the United States, mainly the commodities which have alternatives in friendly states.

Previous Stories:
  UAE: May 11 world day to boycott USA products and services   (5/6/2002)
  Human Rights Watch: Israeli army commited war crimes against the Palestinians   (5/4/2002)
  Syrian boycott campaign of American merchandise   (4/30/2002)
  Egyptian businessmen society halts relations with Israeli companies   (4/24/2002)
  US continues obstruction of effective international law; multinational force concept made meaningless   (4/19/2002)
  Two UN envoys tell of 'horrific' devastation in Jenin camp   (4/19/2002)
  US continues to block effective use of international law to expell Israel from Palestinian areas   (4/12/2002)
  Egyptian pharmacists call for boycotting US products   (4/9/2002)
  Arab states spent $53 billion on arms in year 2000 alone   (4/4/2002)
  More Iraqi children died in July, August because of imposed UN sanctions   (10/9/2001)
  Iraq uses the EURO in its trade deals   (9/7/2001)
  Egypt's writers federation urges boycotting American, Israeli products   (8/20/2001)
  Saudi defense minister calls for boycotting companies dealing with Israel   (6/18/2001)
  Yemenis are enthusiastic for American goods boycott campaign   (12/15/2000)
  Egypt's Mufti: American goods are prohibited by Islam   (11/29/2000)
  US congress opposes Geneva conference   (7/14/1999)

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