Jordan Times
Tuesday, September 7, 1999
Arab League economic council to discuss pan-Arab free trade zone
AMMAN (Petra) — Jordan is taking part in the 64th meeting of the Arab League Economic and Social Council that will convene at the ministerial level in Cairo by the middle of September to focus mainly on creating Pan-Arab free trade zone, Minister of Industry and Trade Mohammad Asfour announced on Monday.
Asfour, who will lead the Jordanian delegation to the meeting, said the Kingdom has already taken steps towards the implementation of the project which will entail the gradual liberalisation of free trade among the Arab countries within 10-years.
The liberalisation process, the minister said, entails gradual reduction of customs duty and other taxes on traded goods at the rate of 10 per cent annually so that by December of 2007 all products will be traded tax free.
Asfour said the ministerial meeting will be planned by senior Arab officials who will hold a preliminary meeting in Cairo on Sept. 11.
Accompanying the minister to the Cairo meeting is a high-level delegation including the Trade Ministry's secretary general Mohammad Halaiqa.