Press releases

Working with business and governments to target trade barriers, boost intra-Arab trade

18 May 2016
ITC News

(Amman) – Addressing the obstacles that businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), face in moving their goods and services across borders can foster greater intra-regional trade in the Arab Region.

Representatives from 12 Arab countries – from the private sector and national standards bodies – are meeting in Amman, Jordan on 18-19 May to discuss ways to boost intra-Arab trade by alleviating traders’ difficulties related to technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.

The regional workshop on the ‘Private-sector perspective on boosting intra-Arab trade: A review of issues related to TBT and SPS measures’ is organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in collaboration with the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries and the League of Arab States.

The goal of the event is for participants to identify private sector priorities related to TBT and SPS measures and to promote dialogue between the public and private sectors on addressing non-tariff measures at the regional level. Private sector representatives are developing a set of recommendations for policymakers and regional institutions. Participants are also creating an action plan to facilitate the harmonization of TBT and SPS measures, which would smooth the path for intra-regional trade.

ITC will provide technical assistance by supporting the implementation of priority actions and by working with participating organizations, the League of Arab States and relevant committees at national and regional levels.

The regional workshop is a part of the USAID-funded project called ‘Coordinated Regional Approach to Overcoming Trade Obstacles Related to Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) across the Arab Countries’ implemented by ITC.

To learn more about the project, visit the project webpage.

Notes for the Editor

About ITC - ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Global Goals for Sustainable Development. For more information, visit www.intracen.org. Follow ITC on Twitter: @ITCnews

About USAID - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead U.S. government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID’s Aid-for-Trade assistance helps countries take advantage of global economic opportunities and harness trade as a driver of shared prosperity and job creation.

Contact ITC: Jarle Hetland
Media Officer, Office of the Executive Director
Phone: +41 22 730 0145, Mobile: +41 79 582 91 80
E: Hetland [at] intracen.org (Hetland[at]intracen[dot]org)