Does the Foreign Minister's visit to Amman bring a breakthrough in the fees file?

Jordanian authorities have postponed the implementation of the decision to allow a number of Syrian products to enter their markets, days after widespread objections from Syrian chambers of commerce to the high customs duties imposed by Amman on Syrian goods.

This development comes at a time when relations between the two countries are witnessing a remarkable diplomatic movement, coinciding with the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Al-Shaibani today to the Jordanian capital, Amman, amid questions about whether the talks touched on the file of fees and trade exchange, especially since the Jordanian Foreign Ministry statement referred to "the ongoing preparations between the foreign ministries of the two countries to prepare for the holding of the second session of the Supreme Coordination Council."

Commercial objections to high fees

The secretary of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce, Ammar Al-Bardan,  considered in a statement to Al-Watan newspaper today that Jordan's decision to postpone allowing the entry of Syrian products is a positive and necessary step, expressing his hope that the postponement will be an opportunity to reconsider the customs duties, which he described as "very high and unfair to Syrian traders and industrialists", stressing that they directly affect the ability of the national product to compete within the Jordanian market.

Al-Bardan explained that the Chamber of Commerce is in constant contact with the Federation of Jordanian Chambers of Commerce to address any obstacles that may hinder the movement of trade exchange between the two countries, pointing out that economic cooperation between Damascus and Amman needs a more flexible environment to ensure the flow of goods.

Foreign Minister's Visit to Amman. Are you pregnant new?

 Although the  official Jordanian statement did not explicitly refer to the customs duties file, it spoke of "ongoing preparations between the two ministries of foreign affairs to prepare for the second session of the Supreme Coordination Council", which opens the door to the possibility of discussing outstanding economic files, foremost of which are protection fees and the file of the flow of Syrian goods to Jordanian markets.

Observers believe that the timing of the visit may indicate a common desire to address economic challenges, especially in light of the pressures expressed by Syrian traders over the past few days.

Jordanian decision to postpone

Jordan's Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Yarub Falah al-Qudah, had issued a decision to postpone the entry of Syrian products into Jordanian markets until the tenth of this month, after it was scheduled to start implementing on April 1. The postponement follows a wave of criticism from Syrian traders who said the "protection fees" imposed on Syrian goods were making them uncompetitive.

Damascus Chamber of Commerce Position

In a statement, the Damascus Chamber of Commerce stressed the importance  of enhancing trade exchange between Syria and Jordan and opening markets to national products in order to serve the interests of the commercial and industrial sectors in both countries. It stressed that the duties imposed on Syrian goods are "clearly high", which limits their ability to enter the Jordanian market and achieve the desired goals of revitalizing trade movement.

The Chamber reiterated its commitment to upholding the principles of free and fair trade, and pushing for the reduction of customs restrictions and measures that impede the movement of goods, considering this as a basis for promoting shared economic growth.

Continuous follow-up of the file

The Chamber confirmed that it will continue to follow up on this file through official channels and economic meetings with the Jordanian side, with the aim of reaching a balanced formula that achieves fair and sustainable trade exchange between the two countries. It also stressed its continued efforts to support Syrian exporters and facilitate the access of national products to foreign markets, in order to enhance its competitive presence regionally and internationally.