Arab member states at the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements are set to study the possibility of establishing a Mediterranean Arab Free Trade Area (MAFTA) during their next meeting in May, Jordan Times reported, quoting officials as saying.
The meeting, to be held in Brussels, will also examine the harmonization of rules of origin amongst the Arab partners as a first step towards achieving the trade area, the paper added.
Jordan's Industry and Trade Ministry, as well as Customs Department senior officials, are expected to join their counterparts this month in a preparatory meeting, also in Brussels, which will present recommendations for upcoming meeting, a Trade Ministry source told the paper.
The 15-member Arab Free Trade Area, to be realized by 2007, is expected to expedite the process of harmonizing the MAFTA, concluded the source – Albawaba.com
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