IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 472 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States 
should initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with Egypt. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 18, 2011 
Mr. DREIER (for himself and Mr. MEEKS) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the United States should initiate negotiations to enter 
into a free trade agreement with Egypt. 
Whereas the Arab Spring has swept through Northern Africa 
and the Middle East, creating the greatest opportunity in 
more than a generation for true democratic development 
in the region; 
Whereas the resulting upheaval also creates enormous poten-
tial for instability, violence, and power vacuums that 
could be exploited by anti-democratic or extremist forces; 
Whereas a key factor that drove protestors into the streets 
was a lack of economic opportunity; 
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•HRES 472 IH 
Whereas demonstrations by the Egyptian people brought to 
an end the nearly 30-year authoritarian rule of Hosni 
Mubarak on February 11, 2011; 
Whereas a referendum held the following month to amend the 
constitution and limit the power of the presidency passed 
by 77 percent; 
Whereas plans for subsequent parliamentary elections have 
been delayed on multiple occasions; 
Whereas frustration at the pace of reform has led thousands 
of Egyptians to return to the streets; 
Whereas jobs and living standards remain the primary con-
cern for most Egyptians; 
Whereas polling shows that 80 percent of Egyptians believe 
that the revolution will improve their economic situation 
within one year; 
Whereas the inherent instability of transitional periods makes 
economic growth and rising living standards difficult to 
achieve in the short term; 
Whereas if the economic aspirations of the Egyptian people 
are not realized, the potential for anti-democratic or ex-
tremist forces to exploit the current instability will only 
be magnified; 
Whereas strong, sustained economic growth and development 
would provide the necessary resources for Egypt to build 
democratic institutions and solidify public support for 
democratic governance, as well as ensure strong labor, 
environmental, and human rights protections; 
Whereas engagement with Egypt through trade negotiations 
would encourage greater reform and build its capacity to 
modernize and liberalize its economy, as well as provide 
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•HRES 472 IH 
maximum leverage to facilitate the implementation of 
strong labor, environmental, and human rights protec-
tions; 
Whereas a vibrant, stable, and prosperous democracy in the 
Arab world’s most populous state is in the interest of the 
United States and would fuel both economic and demo-
cratic development throughout the region; 
Whereas Egypt is already an important trading partner for 
the United States, accounting for over $9,000,000,000 in 
two-way trade in 2010 and representing the fourth larg-
est destination for United States corn and wheat exports; 
Whereas a key United States–Egypt trade initiative, the 
Qualifying Industrial Zones, is already a success, with 
507 companies operating in the zones, shipping 
$1,000,000,000 of Egypt’s $2,200,000,000 in annual ex-
ports to the United States last year, employing 200,000 
men and women, and representing the single largest co-
operative economic project between Israel and Arab 
world; and 
Whereas Egypt is a member of the World Trade Organiza-
tion: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that the United States should initiate negotia-
tions to enter into a free trade agreement with Egypt. 
Æ 
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