Dreier presses for FTA with Egypt

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is pressing U.S. officials to start negotiations with Egypt toward a free-trade agreement.

House Rules Chairman David Dreier (R-Calif.) introduced a bipartisan resolution on Friday calling for a trade deal in advance of Egypt’s first post-revolution parliamentary elections, which begin Nov. 28.

“In the wake of the Egyptian revolution, expanding our economic engagement is the most important step we can take to ensure that the Arab world’s largest nation emerges from its transition as a strong, stable and prosperous democracy,” Dreier said.

"In Egypt, opening their markets would encourage greater reform and build the capacity to modernize and liberalize its economy."

Dreier will travel to Egypt later this month for parliamentary elections and while in Cairo, he will meet with key leaders of the Egyptian business community to discuss U.S.-Egypt economic relations.

In late September, members of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP) a bipartisan, 20-member commission a group of lawmakers including Dreier and Reps. David Price (D-N.C.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) and Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) traveled to the region to discuss the political changes that have taken place since the fall of the Mubarak regime.