Atabak: Developing Trade with Eurasia Requires Removing Trade Barriers

The minister of industry, mine and trade said transparency in import regulations, timely exchange of statistical information, and removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers are prerequisites for Iran to fully benefit from free trade with member states of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Minister Sammat considered transparency in import regulations, timely exchange of statistical information and removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers as requirements for fully benefiting from the benefits of Iran's free trade with member countries of the Eurasian Union.

According to Ambassador Arjan Seyyed Mohammad Atabek, the Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade, in signing the memorandum with the member states of the Eurasian Union in the second meeting of the joint committee for the implementation of the free trade agreement between Iran and this union, called for the operational follow-up of the agreements, the removal of trade barriers and the maximum use of the capacities of this agreement for the development of economic exchanges.

According to the announcement of the Ministry of Security, Atabek stated that transparency in import regulations, timely exchange of statistical information and removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers are requirements for fully benefiting from the benefits of free trade.

He emphasized the need to follow up on issues related to car recycling fees, the access of Iranian cement products to the market of EU member states, and the requirements for the import of food products, and declared Iran's readiness to cooperate in order to investigate and remove these obstacles.

The Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade further demanded that the agreements be turned into concrete implementation plans with a clear schedule and determination of the responsibilities of each party.

He suggested that the secretariats of the two sides, by creating a mechanism for continuous monitoring of the implementation of the resolutions, should present the progress report of the measures in the next meeting of the joint committee.

Minister Samet stated: The negotiations will be constructive and result-oriented, and the summation of negotiations and approvals in specialized committees should be the basis for regular follow-up of commitments.

He expressed hope that the implementation of the agreements, while facilitating the activities of businessmen and increasing trade exchanges, will lead to the strengthening of economic cooperation between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union and the promotion of the position of the parties in regional and international relations.

The second meeting of the Joint Committee for the Implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union was hosted by the Ministry of Security by presenting solutions to facilitate trade, develop economic cooperation and remove existing obstacles.

In this committee, the Minister responsible for trade of the Eurasian Economic Union, officials of the Economic Commission, ambassadors, deputy ministers of peace, representatives of the Trade Development Organization of Iran, Customs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture of Iran, Ministries of Roads and Urban Development, Agricultural Jihad, National Standard Organizations of Iran and Iranian Veterinary Medicine were present in this committee.

Accelerating the establishment of the electronic origin verification system, developing transit cooperation within the framework of the North-South international corridor, and strengthening technical and health cooperation related to trade, were among the most important axes of this meeting.

Also, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Business Council of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture of Iran was evaluated as a step towards strengthening the relationship between private sector activists and expanding business cooperation between the two sides.