Palestinians seek Egypt’s support to join free trade pact
Palestinians are anxiously awaiting admittance to an Arab free trade agreement that should help reduce their economic dependence on Israel.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Palestinian government is continuing its effort to disengage economically from Israel. Palestinian Minister of National Economy Khaled al-Asaily has asked Egypt to support finalizing Palestinian participation in the Agadir Agreement on free trade among Arab states.
In March 2017, Palestinians obtained initial approval to join the agreement from the foreign ministers of the pact's signatories: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan. Protocols are generally supposed to be completed within six months so the Senior Foreign Trade Official Committee can submit recommendations to the four foreign affairs ministers for approval. However, Palestinians are waiting for the ministers to meet. A date hasn't been set.
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Asaily said Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Amr Nassar agreed Oct. 9 to galvanize efforts to speed up final approval for Palestine to join. Asaily said Nassar promised to request a meeting of foreign ministers of the signatory states.
The Agadir Agreement, signed in February 2004 and implemented in 2007, provides for the accession of any Arab country and aims to develop economic activity, support employment, increase production and improve living standards of its members.
