WTO wraps up regional workshop on 'Arab market access issues' in coordination with UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade

The concluding sessions provided an overview on the current status of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTB), which are measures other than tariffs imposed by government. WTO officials discussed the rationale for negotiating NTBs in the WTO, and also provided a detailed explanation of the process for negotiating NTBs in the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). Other topics discussed were the "Scheduling in Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) for DDA," and "WTO Tariff and Trade Databases."

H.E. Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Executive Director â€" Foreign Trade Affairs, UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade (MoFT) said:

"It has been a very enlightening opportunity for all participants from the Arab region to discuss and learn more about evolving challenges and emerging opportunities as members of the World Trade Organisation. The MoFT will continue to support similar activities that seek to consolidate and align the economic and trade initiatives of different countries, particularly in areas related to market access, while promoting the UAE's role as a leading advocate for greater cooperation and understanding among all WTO members."

The workshop gathered a total of 33 participants from 12 countries, which are Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Syria, the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Tunisia and the UAE.

The opening session of the workshop covered basic principles of market access for non-agricultural products; the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade framework, main provision and key issues; bound duties; concession schedules and modification; tariff negotiations in the context of accessions; Non-Agricultural Market Access negotiations; and updates on the Doha Development Agenda mandate.

The UAE has been an active member of the WTO since 1996. Last year, the WTO named the UAE as one of the top 30 nations in the world and the leading Arab economy in terms of global trade.