The Central Department for Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements (CD/BMA) conducts activities related to the negotiation, monitoring, and public awareness of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. This involves undertaking the necessary studies, as well as the coordination of, and participation in, talks and negotiations with the goal of bringing about relevant agreements and protocols. It also involves following up on ratification and implementation procedures, as well as taking the necessary measures to resolve implementation problems. An evaluation of each agreement after its entry into force is performed in order to monitor benefits to Egyptian exporters. I. Preparation of Studies Studies are undertaken with the goal of developing Egypt’s trade relations with partner countries. The studies include the following: A. Baseline information about the country that is the subject of study. B. A statement on the economic potential, principal production sectors and activities within the subject country and the country’s comparative advantages. C. State-pursued trade policies indicating the following: the country’s tariff rates, applied customs and duty-free procedures and constraints, and the country’s commitments in the multilateral trading system, particularly the WTO. D. Trade relations the country has with the outside world, with emphasis on: 1. Trade organizations and agreements to which the subject country is a party and their impact on the viability of establishing trade agreements with them. 2. The size and movement of world trade with the subject country, as well as its import and export structure and major trade partners. E. The country’s trade relations with Egypt including:                  1. Effective agreements with Egypt regulating bilateral trade relations and common membership in regional and international organizations. 2. The size of trade with Egypt on an export-import basis, according to Egyptian data records as well as trade partner data. F. Brainstorming with regard to best practices designed to maximize the benefits of entering into a trade agreement (whether a framework agreement, preferential agreement or free trade agreement), based on analyzed data. II. Study of Draft Agreements In the process of reviewing draft trade agreements, the CD/BMA must consider the following: A. Proposed draft trade agreements with other countries, including: the wording of the draft text, the preparation of suggested commodity lists and their time frames and consultation with authorities and ministries concerned. B. A study of draft agreements submitted by other countries and an investigation of their consistency with Egyptian orientations, conditions and capacities. III. Participation in Meetings A. The organization of and participation in preparatory committees’ meetings jointly with the authorities and ministries concerned (e.g., the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the Federation of Chambers Of Commerce, and the Ministry of Agriculture) to coordinate positions and to exchange views before entering into negotiations. B. Preparation for rounds of negotiations at the bilateral and multilateral levels within and outside Egypt with a view to presenting the Egyptian position and coming up with the best results. C. Joint Committees: 1. At the bilateral level: Preparation of joint meetings of trade committees with the aim of following up trade relations between the two sides and means of developing them through the elimination of obstacles and the resolution of problems. 2. At the multilateral level: Participation in trade committee meetings within a regional framework (e.g., Arab League-based Economic and Social Council Committees meetings, Euro-Egyptian Partnership Council meetings and COMESA meetings) D. Participation in conferences and symposiums organized by foreign and local associations and institutions as part of efforts to develop trade relations. IV. Monitoring Implementation of Agreements A. Observing the implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements and assuring the compliance of foreign and local parties to these agreements, as well as the proposal of appropriate policies and procedures in the event of non-compliance by foreign parties on equal-treatment basis. B. Reviewing and probing impediments to trade with parties to bilateral and multilateral agreements, and proposing best practices and solutions in cooperation and coordination with the authorities concerned.