Rep. Dreier Calls for Trade Pact with Egypt

According to Reuters, Representative David Dreier (R-CA) encouraged the Obama Administration to pursue trade talks with Egypt to assist during its democratic transition. A free trade agreement could help rival groups within Egypt agree on a common vision for the country, while promoting economic reforms that would open new opportunities for American business, Dreier suggested, adding “Engagement is now more important than ever.” He called on the U.S. and Egypt to start by updating “a very outdated bilateral investment treaty.”

Dreier also insisted that Islamist political parties had serious interests in creating jobs: “They weren’t campaigning on a platform of abrogating agreements, treaties with Israel. They weren’t campaigning on an anti-West platform. … They were campaigning on one thing and one thing only, and that is they made a commitment that they would get the economy growing.” Due to the United States’ constrained budget, a free trade agreement would also provide an alternative way of helping Egypt during its transition, according to Dreier.