AMMAN —
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply announced that it would exempt a number of goods from the ban on Syria imports for a period of three months, sparking optimism among the
trading community, especially in light of trade slowdown resulting from the pandemic.
اضافة اعلان
President of the
Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Nael Kabariti told
Jordan News that “this is a great move, despite the modest quantities allowed to be imported from Syria under the decision.”
The merchandise permitted under the new decision includes candy, chocolate, natural leather shoes, children apparel, as well various types of fans, all within specified quantities.
“Shipping prices have risen globally and at great rates during the past months due to the repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis that struck the world,” Kabariti said. “This decision will reduce shipping costs and other financial burdens on merchants and importers in light of Syria’s geographical proximity to Jordan.”
“The decision came after multiple requests from the JCC due to the importance of this step in providing multiple sources for importing goods needed by the Kingdom,” he added.
“The consumer is the primary beneficiary from the decision, as this guarantees the provision of goods and commodities in the local market at reduced prices suitable for people of varying incomes.”
Kabariti also said that “this decision is just the beginning, and [we] aim to evaluate the current situation and how it goes and we look forward to even better decisions in the near future.”
For his part, President of Amman Chamber of Commerce Khalil Haj Tawfik said that “this decision is a no doubt great one, as the ban was useless and unjustified.”
Haj Tawfik explained that “the past decisions have had a bad impact on both consumers and traders, which incurred significant losses. We need to reconsider reinstating all imports from Syria, at previous levels. “
“My objection is that no one informed us about the decision and how the goods were chosen,” he said. “I wonder why they chose these goods in particular, and why is the quantity of the goods this small and limited?”
Haj Tawfik explained that “limited quantities will lead to conflict between traders and will also create injustices.”
According to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the most prominent Syrian commodities covered by the 2018 ban include coffee, tea, various types of vegetables and fruits, carbonated and mineral water, vegetable and animal oils, poultry, meat, and fish.
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