U.S. seeks WTO attention to Egypt’s textile import duties

U.S. seeks WTO attention to Egypt’s textile import duties    The U.S. government has filed a request for World Trade Organization consultations into Egypt’s import duties for textiles and apparel.
   The U.S. Trade Representative said Egypt’s textile and apparel import duties have prevented U.S. exporters access to this market. The United States exported only $250,000 in clothing to Egypt in 2002.
   During the 1994 Uruguay Round, Egypt agreed to bind its duties on certain articles of apparel and clothing in 2003 at a rate of 46 percent, based on the value of the imports. The country also agreed to bind its duties on certain other textiles and apparel articles at a rate of 41 percent.
   “The actual duties that Egypt imposes on these imports appear to greatly exceed these bound rates, which would be inconsistent with Egypt’s WTO commitments,” the USTR said.
   “In addition, because the imposed rates are based on the number of articles being imported, rather than the value of the imports, the imposed rates cause considerable uncertainty in the market,” the agency added.