Negotiating Committee on Liberalization of Trade in Services between Arab Countries, chaired by Lebanon

The meeting of the Negotiating Committee for the Liberalization of Trade in Services (MTSC) began Sunday between Arab countries at the headquarters of the Arab League, chaired by Lebanon, and the participation of representatives of Arab countries allowed to discuss and to monitor a number of issues related to the liberalization of trade in services between Arab countries.

The Minister, Mr. Khalid Mahmoud Wali, Head of Department of Trade Services at the Arab Economic Integration Department of the Arab League, said in a statement that the meeting would consider a number of topics for a period of two years. days, including a proposal to put in place and follow the Arab Agreement on Liberalization of Trade in Services between Arab Countries.

A proposal by the State of Kuwait to submit to the Arab Convention on the Liberalization of Trade in Services and a working paper by the Arab League Secretariat on the liberalization of certain services sectors in the Arab countries would also be examined.

He stressed that the issue of liberalization of trade in services is of great importance for commodity trade between Arab countries, where the rate of growth of trade in services between Arab countries is higher and faster than that of goods: the total output of trade in services has reached 60% of total trade between Arab countries. Noting that the increase in trade in services will lead to an increase in the volume of trade in goods between Arab countries.

Waleed pointed out that 10 Arab countries have adhered to the liberalization of trade in services in this country and that two countries have ratified, namely Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

He pointed out that Egypt was in the process of ratifying the agreement, noting that it had entered into force three months after the ratification of three Arab countries.