Egypt: MP calls for state boycott of Turkish products

A key member of the Egyptian parliament has tabled a proposal calling for institutional boycott of Turkish products, in response to Ankara’s policy in neighboring Libya that Egypt views as threats to its interests.

Tension has recently flared up between Cairo and Ankara after Turkey concluded in November a maritime and security agreement with the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

 

Egypt and regional neighbors including Cyprus, Greece and Israel have taken aim at the agreement under which Ankara has begun deployment of military forces in crisis-hit Libya.

Egypt accused the GNA of being controlled by Islamists, mainly Muslim Brotherhood. The organization is outlawed by President Fattah al-Sisi’s regime but has found a safe haven in Turkey and Qatar.

Wednesday, Hala Abu al-Saad, the deputy head of the Small and Medium Projects Committee in the Egyptian legislature called the government to boycott Turkish exports to Egypt as she accused Ankara of threatening Egypt’s interest in the region and fomenting militancy against Egypt in Libya, Egyptian media reported.

Abu al-Saad argued that “there is evidence of Turkey’s hostility towards Egyptian interests, with Turkey working to threaten Egypt’s stability and spread terrorism on its borders.”

“Despite this, Turkish products are still circulating in the Egyptian market in a large way, which can be considered support to the Turkish state, and there are also many tourist trips that are directed to Turkey.”

The lawmaker citing statistics of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) indicated that he volume of trade exchange between Egypt and Turkey reached about $1.68 billion, of which $1.24 billion were imports, compared to $448.3 million exports to Turkey during the fiscal year 2018-2019.

“Turkey is practicing clear aggression against Egypt and the entire Arab region. It is hostile to Egypt’s interests and is working to sow terrorism in our countries, and we must move economically against Turkey by boycotting Turkish products and stopping economic agreements with them,” Abu al-Saad added.

Last week, the parliament said Egypt will stand idle in front of Turkey’s military deployment in Libya.