Trade Policy Developments in the Middle East and North Africa

by Hoekman, Bernard M.; Khayr Al-Din, Hana

• ISBN13: 9780821346143
• ISBN10: 0821346148
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-01
• Publisher: World Bank

Summary

"While very diverse in many respects, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries nevertheless also share some common characteristics, including a number of important shared challenges for policymakers."The Middle East and North Africa region has great potential for economic growth and prosperity in the 21st century. Yet, this potential will not be realized unless governments and private sector leaders in the region forge partnerships for development. An indispensable resource for all those working within the international development community, especially within the Middle East and North Africa region, Trade Policy Developments in the Middle East and North Africa offers policy and institutional alternatives to help both parties achieve that goal.This volume describes and analyzes recent trade policy developments in the Middle East and North Africa. Contributors-almost all economists from the region-review recent trends in trade performance, assess current trade and investment regimes, and discuss some of the emerging microeconomic policy challenges that confront governments and firms seeking to export and trade. Topics addressed include the need and scope for using regional integration and economic free zones as a tool of development, mobilization of non-trade tax bases, efficient enforcement of product standards to ensure health and safety of citizens, and implementation of modern information technologies to facilitate customs clearance.This book is the second in a series from the Mediterranean Development Forum, a partnership of 10 Middle East and North Africa Region think tanks and the World Bank Institute. This volume will be of interest to development specialists, policymakers, and investors.

Table of Contents

Contributors	viii
Foreword	x
About MDF	xi
Introduction	1	(6)
Bernard Hoekman
Hanaa Kheir-El-Din
Managing Global Integration in the Middle East and North Africa	7	(44)
Mustapha K. Nabli
Annette I. De Kleine
Incentives for Economic Integration in the Middle East	51	(18)
Ahmed Galal
Turkey, Tunisia, and Israel: A Comparison of Agreements with the European Union	69	(32)
Subidey Togan
Agricultural Trade Around the Mediterranean	101	(12)
A. Halis Akder
Egypt: An Assessment of Recent Trade Policy Developments	113	(28)
Amal Refaat
Trade Policies in Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia	141	(24)
Riad al Khouri
Para-Tariff Measures in Arab Countries	165	(16)
Jamel Zarrouk
Trade Liberalization and Tax Reform in the Southern Mediterranean Region	181	(32)
George T. Abed
Enforcement of Product Standards as Barriers to Trade: The Case of Egypt	213	(16)
Hanaa Kheir-El-Din
Electronic Data Interchange, Trade Facilitation, and Customs Reform	229	(16)
Benita Cox
Sherine Ghoneim
Free Zones in the Middle East: Development Patterns and Future Potential	245	(20)
Kishore Rao
Index	265