Egyptian exports under the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ) agreement will now face a 10 per cent tariff under new US trade measures, Yahya Elwathik Bellah, head of Egypt's Commercial Representation Authority, said on Tuesday. Speaking via a Zoom call to a seminar hosted by the Egyptian Centre for Economic Studies (ECES), Elwathik Bellah explained that goods previously exempt from US tariffs—such as select QIZ sectors—will now be included under the new 10 per cent levy. Other Egyptian exports that do not benefit from preferential trade treatment will also be subject to the same rate, in addition to any country-specific duties. He also pointed out that steel and aluminum exports, which have long been subject to the 25 per cent tariff by the US, will continue to face the same duties. However, Elwathik Bellah noted that discussions with US officials are ongoing. He said removing certain non-tariff trade barriers—such as restrictions on agricultural goods like potato seeds, halal certification issues, air cargo limitations, and regulations affecting cross-border data transfers—could open the door to easing or lifting the tariffs altogether. On April 3, US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping set of new tariffs, including a 10 per cent import tax on goods from Egypt, sparking a trade war with nations across the globe. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
