Agreement of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (FTA):

Although an agreement was signed between the member countries of the Arab League aiming at developing of commercial exchange in 1981, the executive programme to liberalize Arab commodities of custom duties, fees, and taxes of similar effect did not start until 1998. The number of Arab countries which are members to this Agreement is 17 countries. Sudan is the 17^th country joining this Area, after it was admitted in 2002. Sudan has been applying a 20% annual decrease in the customs tariff levied on Arab goods since 2006 in order to reach the zero tariff in 2010, whereas Sudanese exports has been enjoining the zero tariff since 2005.  

In order to benefit from this preferential advantage concerning the customs on the commodities produced in Arab countries, importer shall present the following documents to the customs authorities:

1.     All commercial documents necessary for importation, in general.

2.     Certificate of origin of the Arab Area in accordance with the model accredited by the Arab League.

3.     Certificate of origin shall be scrutinized by the customs authorities and customs preference shall be thereafter applied.