US hesitation in trade talks with Egypt, approves Oman
Egypt-USA, Economics, 1/20/2006

The USA has signed a free trade agreement with Oman on Thursday while it kept talks with Egypt suspended amid fears pertinent to its democratic obligations.

The American trade representative Rob Portman said in the signing ceremony that the "agreement we sign today ( yesterday) as well as agreements with Jordan, Israel, Bahrain and Morocco are an important step, on the road of establishing a free Middle East trade area by the fall of 2013."

Portman urged the US congress to ratify the agreement with Oman in the coming months, hoping to get the support of the Democrats who have fears over the labor laws in the Sultanate.

On the other hand, Portman disclosed that Washington is not ready to start a free trade talks with Egypt, noting that "certain fears were raised at the political level," besides certain economic issues are needed to be settled.

While Egypt has been seeking since years to finalize the free trade agreement with the USA, it seemed by the end of 2005 it has lastly reached the beginning of the talks. American officials said that the US State Department prevented this after a decision was issued in December 2005 for imprisonment the chairman of al-Ghad opposition political party Ayman Nour for five years.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak, Cheney stress Damascus abidance to international resolution   (1/18/2006)
  Cheney in Egypt to discuss regional issues   (1/17/2006)
  'Seeking Eternity' gallery still touring America   (1/12/2006)
  200,000 Americans visit Tut exhibition   (12/24/2005)
  Cheney cuts Middle East tour, back home   (12/21/2005)
  $1 billion in Egyptian textile exports to US   (11/26/2005)
  Bush to sign US-Oman free trade agreement   (10/19/2005)
  Oman concludes free trade agreement with USA   (10/4/2005)
  American-Omani free trade agreement negotiations starts Saturday   (3/12/2005)

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