Qatar takes part in meeting of GCC Customs Union

Qatar participated on Tuesday in the 23rd meeting of the Customs Union of the Gulf Co-operation Council countries, which was held via video conferencing technology.

HE the Chairman of the General Authority of Customs (GAC) Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Jamal represented Qatar at the meeting.

The meeting discussed several issues, foremost of which is the follow-up to the implementation of the decision of the Ministers of Commerce in the GCC countries in their extraordinary meeting held on April 2, about the economic repercussions of the coronavirus (Covid-19) on the GCC states, and ways to facilitate and streamline the movement of goods between the countries of the council during the coming period.

Also, it followed up the implementation of the decision of the Supreme Council at its 17th consultative meeting regarding completing the requirements of the customs union.

During the meeting, it was agreed to study the amendments submitted by Qatar related to the unified customs law.

The heads of customs bodies and departments of the GCC countries discussed the results and recommendations of the committees’ meetings related to several customs issues, in addition to reviewing the developments of the GCC countries’ accession to some international customs agreements emanating from the World Customs Organisation, and other topics on the agenda.

Tuesday’s video conference is part of the periodic meetings of the Gulf customs authorities, which are being held remotely for the first time due to health precautions to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

These meetings contribute to increasing co-operation between the GCC countries in all customs fields and discussing the mechanisms for importing and exporting, other topics and projects related to international trade, and joint regulatory procedures between the Gulf countries.