GCC trade policy reform sought

摘要

Bureaucracy and the lack of a policy framework for dialogue between government and the private sector remain key stumbling blocks for Gulf Co-operation Council countries, GCC logistics officials have told IHS Maritime. Reliability of supply chains and greatly improved inland connectivity for growing trade and cargo flows are vital to the region's trade. A Dubai Ports World representative said one of the grouping's "fundamental objectives" was the integration and inter-relationships between GCC member countries in the economic arena. GCC tariffs were unified a decade ago. A GCC common customs law, effective since 1 January 2003, states that the common tariff of the GCC Customs Union "shall be 5% on all foreign goods imported from outside of the customs union".