The Greater Arab Free Trade Area is one of the levels of Arab economic integration

The Greater Arab Free Trade Area is one of the levels of Arab economic integration

Prof. Dr. Moustafa El-Abdallah Al Kafry

In recent years, there have been positive signs with regard to the activation of joint Arab economic action and the development of intra-Arab trade exchanges, as evidenced by the establishment of the Arab Free Trade Area. It has become necessary for the free trade area to develop in the future to higher levels of Arab economic cooperation, such as the customs union, the Arab common market and economic unity. The Greater Arab Free Trade Area is an important step to activate joint Arab economic action and intra-Arab trade, and is necessary in a world dominated by regional economic blocs. But this goal can only be achieved if member States in the region implement their commitments.

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The Greater Arab Free Trade Area is one of the levels of Arab economic integration

The Greater Arab Free Trade Area is one of the levels of Arab economic integration

Contents

I – Levels of economic cooperation between States: 3

1 – Partial preference: 3

2. Free Trade Area: 4
3. Customs Union: 4
4. Common Market 5
5. Economic Union: 5
6. Economic integration: 5

II – Greater Arab Free Trade Area Agreement: 8

1 – Announcement of the establishment of theGreater Arab Free Trade Area: 9

2- Rules and principles of Greater Arab Free Trade Area: 11

3. Liberalization of trade exchange among States Parties: 13
4. non-tariff restrictions: 14
5. Rules of Origin: 15

6- Exchange of information and data: 15

7- Special treatment for Arab least developed countries: 15

8. Follow-up, implementation and dispute resolution mechanism: 16

III – Arab rules of origin. 19

1. National Origin Criterion: 20

2 – Value Added Calculation: 21

3 – Secondary manufacturing processes: 24

4. Proof of Origin: 26

5 – Arab Certificate of Origin Form: 27

6. Passage through territory other than that of States Parties: 28

7 – Settlement of disputes resulting from the application of Arab rules of origin: 29

IV – Results of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area. 30

V –  Restrictions and difficulties facing the Greater Arab Free Trade Area  32

1. Non-tariff restrictions: 32

2 – Delay in approving detailed rules of origin for Arab goods: 35

3 – The problem of visas and obstacles to the movement of persons, businessmen and investors: 35

4. Lack of data and information: 36

VI – Activation of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area. 37