"USTR director for Middle Eastern Affairs visits AmCham" Ned Saums, director for Middle Eastern Affairs, United States Trade Representative (USTR) - (October 19, 2004)

On October 19, AmCham Egypt hosted a meeting between Ned Saums, director for Middle Eastern Affairs, United States Trade Representative (USTR), and AmCham board members and DoorKnock participants.

AmCham President Taher Helmy welcomed Saums and described the current situation of Egypt-USTR relations, which he pointed out, are undergoing a transition phase under the newly formed Cabinet.
Saums briefed participants on USTR’s view of Egypt’s prospects vis-à-vis a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs). He said the Egyptian government’s significant commitment to reforms offer a special opportunity for Egypt-US trade relations.

Saums went on to point out that the US had much at stake in the Middle East including a strategy to strengthen economic ties by working towards establishing a Middle East Free Trade Agreement (MEFTA) within ten years. He said the USTR has several mechanisms to prepare countries in the region for a MEFTA, including the Trade & Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). The primary function of the TIFA is to assess and evaluate the implementation of policies, provide concrete steps to follow, and serve as a predecessor to a FTA. A TIFA meeting is planned in the near future, possibly before the end of the year.

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