The Agreement on the Facilitation and Development of Trade Exchange among Arab States in the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) entered into force on January 1, 1998. To date, 18 Arab countries have acceded to the Agreement: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, the Sultanate of Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, and Morocco. The Federal Republic of Somalia acceded to the Agreement in May 2023; however, implementation has not yet commenced. The provisions of the Agreement apply to all goods, with the exception of products manufactured within free zones, as well as goods prohibited from importation, circulation, or use in any member state for religious, health, security, environmental, or sanitary reasons. The Arab Framework Agreement of Liberalization of Trade in Services Among Arab Countries entered into force in 2019 and constitutes a key complement to the liberalization of trade in goods. The annexes supplementing the Executive Program of GAFTA were adopted on a guiding basis for a period of two years and became mandatory as of September 1, 2024. Detailed Arab Rules of Origin have been applied since June 2020, alongside the introduction and acceptance of electronic certificates of origin. Both the Arab Customs Cooperation Agreement and the Convention on the Regulation of Transit Traffic among the Arab League States have been adopted. Yemen, Sudan, and Palestine are accorded least-developed country (LDC) status. Iraq has suspended the application of the Agreement and imposes customs duties on its imports.

Egypt acceded to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Agreement in 1998. The implementation of customs duty exemptions on imports from other member states began on February 17, 1999 on the basis of reciprocity, followed by full exemption with the establishment of the Free Trade Area (FTA) in 2000. COMESA currently comprises 21 member states: Egypt, Kenya, Sudan, Mauritius, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Madagascar, Uganda, Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Seychelles, Comoros, Eswatini, Libya, Tunisia, and Somalia. Tariff reductions and exemptions among member states are applied as follows: Full Exemption (15 countries): Fifteen member states grant full customs duty exemption on imports of all goods originating from other member states, subject to compliance with the applicable rules of origin. These countries are: Egypt, Kenya, Sudan, Mauritius, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Djibouti, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Comoros, Libya, Seychelles, and Tunisia. Eritrea: Applies an 80% customs duty exemption. Ethiopia: Applies a 10% tariff reduction. No Exemptions: Eswatini, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia do not grant any customs duty exemptions. Uganda: Uganda Maintains a list of sensitive goods vis-à-vis COMESA member states, which constrains Egyptian exports.

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The Free Trade Agreement between Egypt and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)—comprising Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland—was signed on January 27, 2007 in Davos and entered into force in August 2007. Treatment of Industrial Goods: The Egyptian exports have been fully liberalized from all customs duties and non-tariff barriers since the Agreement’s entry into force in 2007. The Egyptian imports from EFTA were subject to a 13-year phased liberalization period for industrial goods and are now fully exempt from customs duties. Treatment of Agricultural Goods: Trade in agricultural products with EFTA countries is conducted on a reciprocal basis, with three separate schedules governing exports and imports with Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland–Liechtenstein. Selected agricultural goods benefit from tariff exemptions or reductions within the framework of open or quota-based arrangements. Treatment of Processed Agricultural Goods: The two parties had previously agreed on a list of products under which EFTA granted Egypt preferential treatment equivalent to that extended to European Union countries for a period of five years, without reciprocal concessions from the Egyptian side. This protocol has since been suspended, and preparations are currently underway to negotiate a new protocol establishing mutual preferences for both sides. Origin Cumulation: The Agreement provides for cumulation of origin within the framework of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin.

The Agreement Establishing a Free Trade Area Between the Republic of Türkiye and the Arab Republic of Egypt entered into force in March 2007, providing immediate liberalization for Egyptian industrial exports making them exempt from all customs and non-tariff restrictions, and partial liberalization for certain agricultural exports. For imports from Türkiye, the Agreement established a 13-year transitional period for industrial goods, during which Egypt gradually liberalized imports, alongside partial liberalization for agricultural and processed agricultural products. In January 2020, full liberalization of trade in industrial goods was completed, marking the end of the 13-year transitional period for imports. To benefit from the Agreement, exports must comply with the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Rules of Origin. The Agreement also allows for cumulation of origin under the PEM Rules of Origin.

The Agadir Agreement Setting up a Free Trade Area between the Arab Mediterranean States entered into force on July 6, 2006, following ratification by the member states (Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Jordan). Its actual implementation began on March 27, 2007, after customs authorities in all four countries were notified to start immediate full exemption from customs duties. To benefit from the Agreement, exports must comply with the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Preferential Rules of Origin. The Agreement allows for cumulation of origin under the PEM Preferential Rules of Origin. This means that Egypt or any other Mediterranean country can use production inputs of national origin from any of the member states in manufacturing goods for export to another member, and those inputs are treated as having the national origin of the exporting country.

The Free Trade Agreement between Egypt and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR)—which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay—was signed in San Juan in August 2010 and entered into force on September 1, 2017. The framework for trade liberalization in Egypt–MERCOSUR Free Trade Agreement divides goods into four main lists, which are gradually liberalized over a ten-year period, with the exception of a set of sensitive goods. The treatment of these sensitive goods is to be determined by the Joint Committee established under the Agreement. The five lists are implemented as follows: First List: Immediate exemption upon the entry into force of the Agreement. Second List: 25% reduction per year starting from the Agreement’s entry into force. Third List: 12.5% reduction per year starting from the Agreement’s entry into force. Fourth List: 10% reduction per year starting from the Agreement’s entry into force. Fifth List: Sensitive goods, with liberalization modalities to be determined by the Joint Committee.

The Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) brings together the 55 member states of the African Union. All member states have signed the Agreement except Eritrea, while 49 countries have ratified it. Egypt was among the first countries to sign the Agreement in March 2018 and deposited its instrument of ratification in 2019. Implementation of the Agreement commenced on 1 January 2021, based on the principle of reciprocity. Preferential trade was operationalized in October 2022 for non-sensitive goods (List A)—which account for 90% of tariff lines—in accordance with the agreed rules of origin, through the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI). However, only a limited number of countries have formally joined the initiative, completed their constitutional procedures, and published the relevant instruments in their official gazettes. These countries include: Ghana, Tanzania, Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, Mauritius, Tunisia, South Africa, Morocco, Botswana, Burundi, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, Namibia, Algeria, Seychelles, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. Negotiations under the Agreement were conducted in two phases. Phase I covered trade in goods, trade in services, and the dispute settlement mechanism, with certain outstanding issues relating to rules of origin at the time. Phase II negotiations have been concluded for the protocols on investment, intellectual property rights, and competition policy, which were adopted at the February 2023 Summit. In addition, the protocols on digital trade and women and youth in trade were finalized and adopted during the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit held on 17–18 February 2024. Agreement had previously been reached on 93% of the detailed rules of origin for goods, enabling the commencement of tariff reductions among member states that declared readiness to implement the Agreement. The remaining outstanding rules of origin—particularly for textiles and garments, and automotive products—were finalized during the 17th Ministerial Meeting held in Cairo in September 2025. The Agreement includes a range of operational mechanisms and instruments aimed at maximizing private sector benefits. These tools—currently being implemented by the relevant Egyptian authorities in coordination with their counterparts in partner countries—were launched by H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during the 12th Extraordinary African Union Summit. Key instruments include: The E-Tariff Book portal for tariff concession schedules. A comprehensive guide on rules of origin. An online mechanism for monitoring, reporting, and addressing non-tariff barriers (NTBs). The African Trade Observatory (ATO) information portal, for which implementation in Egypt is currently underway.

The Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Arab Republic of Egypt was signed on December 5, 2020 and entered into force on January 1, 2021, coinciding with the cessation of the application of the Egypt–EU Association Agreement to the United Kingdom following its full withdrawal from the European Union (EU). This was enacted pursuant to Presidential Decree 685/2020, published on December 24, 2020. The provisions of this Agreement mirror those of the Egypt–EU Association Agreement with respect to the liberalization of trade in industrial and agricultural goods between the two parties, while maintaining the tariff-rate quotas specified in the annexes concerning agricultural and food products. To benefit from the Agreement, exports must comply with the rules of origin set out therein.

The Free Trade Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt was signed in July 2024 during the Serbian President’s visit to Egypt and entered into force on September 1, 2025. The Agreement provides for the elimination of customs duties, equivalent charges, and quantitative restrictions on exports and imports according to schedules attached to the Agreement for each party, as follows: In respect of industrial goods, customs items are divided into four categories: immediate liberalization, phased reduction over 4 years, phased reduction over 10 years, and exempted goods. List A: Goods to be liberalized immediately upon Agreement’s entry into force. Lists B and C: Goods to be gradually liberalized according to the timelines specified in the Agreement’s annexes (4 years – 10 years). List D: Goods excepted from liberalization (sensitive items). In respect of agricultural and processed agricultural goods as well as fish products, customs tariffs are divided into full liberalization, partial liberalization, and excepted goods. To benefit from the Agreement, exports must comply with the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Rules of Origin.