Diplomacy + Foreign Trade on 20 September 2020
Topping diplomatic coverage this morning: Egypt isn’t happy with an interview Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu gave to CNN Turk. Cavusoglu claimed during the interview that following the 30 June revolution “there was no transition period in Egypt,” which the Egyptian Foreign Ministry denounced as baseless and “totally unrealistic.”
Meanwhile, Kenya and Egypt are still in talks over the 25% customs duty Kenya said it could impose on some Egyptian exports, an unnamed government source told Al Shorouk. Press reports indicated last week that Kenya backpedaled on its earlier threat to leave the Comesa trade agreement and impose the tariffs.
Egypt out of the running for WTO director general job: Abdel Hamid Mamdouh, Egypt’s candidate to fill the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) director general seat, is no longer being considered for the position, Reuters reports. This comes after Mamdouh, along with Mexico’s Jesus Seade and Moldova’s Tudor Ulianovschi, failed to secure enough votes to make it into the final round.
El Sisi, EU Council prez talk economic cooperation, regional diplomacy: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and European Council President Charles Michel discussed the dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean and the conflict in Libya during a phone call on Thursday, according to an Ittihadiya statement. El Sisi also talked US-Egypt relations and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder, according to a separate statement.
Egypt to resume bean exports, under conditions: The government has reportedly agreed to end its suspension of beans and legumes exports, provided authorities review export requests on a case-by-case basis, Ahmed El Basha, head of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce’s agricultural products division, which had been lobbying to lift the ban, tells Masrawy. The Trade Ministry introduced a ban on beans and lentils in March to ensure sufficient supply amid the pandemic that has disrupted global trade.
The Egyptian Exporters Association "Expolink" has launched a digital platform to promote and market its “Made in Egypt” products, Hapi Journal reports, citing a statement by board chairman Khaled El Miqati. Exporters will be able to use the platform free of charge for one year to facilitate to help them access new markets, he said.