The Prohibited and Restricted Goods Group, operating under the framework of the Arab Customs Union, is scheduled to convene its third meeting at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States on 23-24 August. The meeting will witness the participation of member states engaged in the Arab Customs Union negotiations.
During the meeting, the group's agenda will revolve around the examination of lists encompassing prohibited and restricted goods within the scope of the Arab Customs Union. These lists have been submitted by the member states with the objective of arriving at a consensus on a comprehensive, unified catalog of prohibited goods. These goods are ineligible for inclusion in discussions related to the unification of customs duties within the Arab Customs Union. The prohibition may stem from religious, health, environmental, or security reasons. This practice mirrors the prevailing conditions within the framework of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, identified as "goods to which the provisions of the Executive Programme for the Greater Arab Free Trade Area do not apply."
Furthermore, the group will analyse the roster of prohibited goods applicable within the Gulf Cooperation Council. A comparison will be made between this list and the regulations currently effective within the Arab Customs Union.
In addition to the above, deliberations will encompass lists of restricted commodities, provided to the General Secretariat by the member states. Restricted commodities are those that necessitate prior approval or specific procedures mandated by the importer. These procedures can either occur before the commodities' arrival or subsequently after their entry. The discussions will encompass the rationale behind these restrictions and the pertinent authorities overseeing them. The ultimate goal is to consider the potential for unifying or reducing restrictions within the framework of the Union, given that, post-establishment, all member states of the Union function as a singular entity.
