Egypt directs criticism at Europea regarding trade

Dr. Ahmed Goweili, Egypt's minister of trade and supply directed criticism at the countries of the European Union for obstructing Egyptian exports and enacting sanctions against them -- especially duties on textiles.

Goweili confirmed that these European measures cannot coexist with negotiations between the two sides to establish a free trade zone.

Last November, the European Union decided to impose what it called "a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of cotton-type bed linen" of 20.6% on exports of textiles and 13% on blankets.

Goweili said the trade and foreign ministries are exerting great efforts to end the claims charged by a number of European countries against Egyptian companies, accusing them of the glutting the textile market.

Abdel Hakim Haggag, head of the holding company for textiles, said the European Union is insisting upon imposing these fees despite the fact that Egypt was already found not to practice this policy against European markets.

Egypt was initially found innocent of the claims of glutting in May, 1997, but some countries renewed the claims, aiming to obstruct Egyptian exports.

The minister also stated that Egypt is not currently depending on the European markets and that it has succeeded in diversifying its commercial policy by dealing with countries in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Americas.