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Press release: Further reforms would help sustain already
impressive economic growth
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This first Trade Policy Review of Qatar has given us a better
understanding of its trade and related policies, and of the challenges
it faces. The preparation of an excellent country report by Qatar has
provided a useful opportunity for domestic review of trade policies —
and the comprehensive assessment by the WTO Secretariat has provided
all of us a valuable reference. Our dialogue has further contributed
to our understanding through direct exchange between Members. It has
been stimulated by the full and open engagement of the high-level
Qatari delegation led by H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Jassim Al-Thani,
Minister of Economy and Commerce, as well as the insightful comments
by the discussant, and the thoughtful interventions by other
delegations.
Members commended Qatar for its impressive economic perfomance over
the past few years. This was as a result both of its macroeconomic
reforms and development strategy implemented since the mid-1990s, and
of high oil and natural gas export earnings as from mid-1999. Members
also appreciated Qatar's efforts to diversify its economy away from
crude oil, and for ensuring intergenerational equity in the
exploitation of its non-renewable resources, through health, education
and infrastructure projects. Recent measures taken by Qatar to improve
the business environment and liberalize its investment regime were
also welcomed, although delegations noted that it remains restricted
in certain key activities, such as banking, insurance and commercial
services, some of which continue to be dominated by public companies.
Members appreciated Qatar's hospitality during the fourth Ministerial
Conference where the Doha Development Agenda was launched, and
encouraged it to increase its participation in WTO activities and to
fully meet its notification requirements. Qatar's market for all
products is quite open, and the bulk of its trade has taken place on
an MFN basis. However, it was indicated that a slight increase in
protection of certain industries followed the application of the GCC
common external tariff by Qatar on 1 January 2003. In this regard,
Members urged Qatar to take steps to make its applied tariff fully WTO
compatible. Concerns were also expressed about the imposition of a 5%
commission on parallel imports of certain products, and the
enforcement of WTO provisions on customs valuation.
Some Members asked about Qatar's intention to adopt legislation on
contingency trade remedies and competition policy. They encouraged
Qatar to amend its government procurement regime to remove, inter alia,
the local agent requirement, and the price preferences for domestic
and GCC products. Members also sought further clarification on:
preferential trade negotiations; import restrictions (prohibitions,
licensing); incentive schemes and price controls; TBT and SPS
measures; protection of intellectual property rights; agriculture
(food security and state support); oil, natural gas and electricity
(state intervention and further diversification); manufacturing
(“Quality Qatarization” programme); and services (GATS commitments,
financial, telecoms, transport, and tourism).
Members appreciated the responses provided by the Qatari delegation,
including the clarifications provided with respect to customs
valuation procedures.
In conclusion, I encourage Qatar to pursue the implementation of its
already impressive reforms, including further improvement of its
multilateral commitments, with a view to enhancing the transparency,
predictability, and credibility of its trade regime, and adherence to
WTO principles. I invite Members to assist Qatar by providing adequate
technical assistance, including in trade capacity building, and by
further opening their market for products towards which Qatar is
diversifying its exports.
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