• Next May, they will approve removing obstacles of trade via post and discuss the draft agreement of Customs cooperation.

In the context of strengthening Arab Integration, heads and directors of Cus...

• Next May, they will approve removing obstacles of trade via post and discuss the draft agreement of Customs cooperation. In the context of strengthening Arab Integration, heads and directors of Customs Authorities in Arab Countries approved new facilities for two-way trade between Arab countries, including preparation of a Common Customs Form, establishment of Arab Customs Information Center, acceleration of rehabilitating Customs ports all over Arab Countries to establish Arab Customs Union and Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) as soon as possible.      Head of Customs Authority, Dr. Magdy Abdel Aziz, declared that meetings of Arab Customs’ heads and directors, held in Cairo and chaired by head of Sudanese Customs Authority, Dr. Seif El-Din Omar, discussed a number of cooperation files between Arab Customs Authorities and following up the file of Arab Customs Union and its establishment procedures, trade exchange obstacles prepared by Arab Union for Land Transport, as well as Arab initiative results on trade security and facilitation.           He added that Customs’ heads agreed also on removing non-Customs obstacles for Arab trade via post, and on the form of seals and signatures used for imports and exports in Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA). In addition, they agreed to held an expert meeting next April to discuss Arab Countries’ comments on the draft agreement of Customs Cooperation to be presented in the meeting of Arab Customs Heads that will be held from 5 to 7 May in Saudi Arabia.          The meeting recommended that Arab Countries have to determine the officials responsible for following up Arab Customs Union file as soon as possible to complete the procedures and requirements of its establishment and to accelerate amendment of Customs Tariff Structures in Arab Countries in conformity with Arab Customs Tariff Schedule, providing the General Secretariat any amendments in Customs fees. As well as it confirms the importance of holding the meetings of technical committee concerned with implementing the agreement of organizing crossing of trucks and commercial consignments by transit system in Arab Countries, and assigning the General Secretariat of Arab League to follow up the efforts exerted by Customs Administrations in implementing the recommendations of Riyadh Declaration related to combat commercial fraud and counterfeiting and protect intellectual property rights.         Regarding Arab Union memo for Land Transport on trade obstacles, Arab Customs’ heads requested Arab Union for Transport to determine Customs outlets where many Customs procedures are applied, increasing the time needed for release of Arab goods and exports, and other ports where unnecessary documents or fines are applied increasing the cost of Arab goods and products, or other ones that don’t apply electronic Customs procedures impeding flow of two-way trade between Arab countries . (Source: Ministry of Finance)