Albawaba.com - Amman
Jordan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced the renewed imposition of customs duties on goods of Kuwaiti origin, signaling what it appears to be an imminent trade conflict between the two countries.
The ministry’s secretary general, Samer Al Tawil announced the move this week, calling upon Kuwaiti authorities to speed up the endorsement of the economic and commercial cooperation agreement signed between the two countries many years ago to enhance the bilateral trade ties.
“The Jordanian government has decided to re-impose customs duties on goods of Kuwaiti origin and halt work based on the cooperation agreement between the two countries, due to the Kuwaiti side’s non-compliance with this agreement,” Tawil said.
Under the economic and commercial agreement signed between Jordan and Kuwait, all exports shipped between the two countries are exempted from customs duties
The secretary general added that the Jordanian Ministry of Agriculture had received many complaints from Jordanian exporters regarding customs duties they say Kuwaiti authorities have imposed on their products in violation of the agreement.
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti exports to Jordan have been exempted from any customs duties.
Tawil said contacts had recently been made with Kuwaiti economic officials, who said that the cooperation agreement between Kuwait and Jordan was still being discussed at the Kuwaiti Parliament and had not been approved.
“The Jordanian government will apply the agreement and exempt the Kuwaiti exports to Jordan immediately after the Kuwiti Parliament endorses it. The Jordanian government cannot exempt the Kuaiti exports unilaterally,” added Tawil.
Tawil added that the Jordanian government was keen on increasing economic cooperation with Kuwait.
