Arab customs directors consider Arab free trade zone

Heads of Arab customs administrations who wound up a meeting in cairo Tuesday looked into issues related to the Arab Free Trade Zone and customs duties decrease.

Participants debated a program to set up an Arab free trade zone, and the 10% decrease, starting this January, on customs duties on some products.

The execution program of the Arab free trade zone was initiated in 1998, and stipulates a progressive 10% duties decrease each year. However, protectionist measures and the long list of products to benefit from duties decrease impede the program's good fulfillment.

The meeting also examined reports of the Arab League SG on the follow-up of the free trade zone project and the technical commission that supervises agreements regulating goods transit between Arab countries.

Results of the meeting will be submitted to next February's session of the Arab League's Economic and Social Council.