Dubai Customs takes part in the 17th meeting of WTO committee for GCC States
Geneva – Dubai Customs as represented by the External Relations Director, Mr. Abbas Maki, took part in the 27th meeting of the WTO Committee for the GCC States including representatives from the GCC Customs Union Committee held recently in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Lengthy discussions over the Committee of Trade and Development (CTD) took place at the meeting following the notification of the creation of GCC Customs union addressed to WTO by the General Secretariat of GCCC according to the enabling Para.
The notification was supported by a significant number of members while others wished such notification to be made by the Counsel in accordance with Article XXVI of GATT and not the enabling Para.
Article XXVI of GATT requires that the customs tariff and commercial laws at the union members should almost be similar to those of non-members while the enabling Para does not specify any definition for local and international arrangements.
The GCC States from their part, affirmed that the external tariff rates applicable to GCC States are much less than the tariff ceiling of the customs union members, which is higher than that rate in connection with a few number of goods. Such rates are being discussed once again whether the GCC notification is made in accordance with Article XXVI of GATT or the enabling Para.
At the end of the discussion, a high level regional meeting was recommended to assess the requirements for WTO trade negotiations scheduled to take place in Muscat the capital city Oman from 10 – 14 October 2009 to follow-up recent developments over such important issue.
