United States To Wait On Free Trade Agreement With Egypt.

This article reports that the U.S. will not seek a free trade agreement with Egypt this year. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said that the administration was thought to be planning an agreement with the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak by year's end but switched course after what it saw as backsliding on Egyptian promises to change the political system. Rice, however, denied the trade pact was being withheld to penalize the Egyptian government. Trade Representative Rob Portman has said overall free trade agreements with potential partners need to be finished by the end of 2006. The administration has said it needs to meet that timetable before expedited presidential trade negotiating authority expires in mid-2007.