The Design and Operation of Rules of Origin in Greater Arab Free Trade Area: Challenges of Implementation and Reform

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the design and implementation challenges of rules of origin in GAFTA, highlighting their impact on trade facilitation and regional integration, and proposing reforms to overcome existing obstacles.

Contribution

It provides a detailed examination of GAFTA's rules of origin, identifies implementation challenges, and suggests reforms to improve their effectiveness.

Findings

ROO are a significant obstacle to full GAFTA implementation

Reforms can enhance trade flow and regional integration

Current ROO provisions have notable shortcomings

Abstract

Rules of origin (ROO) are pivotal element of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA). ROO are basically established to ensure that only eligible products receive preferential tariff treatment. Taking into consideration the profound implications of ROO for enhancing trade flows and facilitating the success of regional integration, this article sheds light on the way that ROO in GAFTA are designed and implemented. Moreover, the article examines the extent to which ROO still represents an obstacle to the full implementation of GAFTA. In addition, the article provides ways to overcome the most important shortcomings of ROO text in the agreement and ultimately offering possible solutions to those issues.