Jordan, UK explore deepening trade ties under partnership agreement
AMMAN: Jordan and the UK have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic and trade cooperation under the framework of their 2021 bilateral partnership agreement, the Jordan News Agency reported.
During talks in Amman on Saturday, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply Yarub Qudah met with British Trade Envoy to Jordan, Kuwait, and Palestine, Iain McNicol, to discuss progress made under the deal and explore further avenues of collaboration.
Philip Hall, the British ambassador to Jordan, also attended the meeting.
According to a statement from the Jordanian Ministry of Industry, the discussions touched on efforts to streamline rules of origin and the development of mechanisms to monitor the agreement's implementation; chief among them the launch of a Partnership Council and technical committees.
Qudah highlighted several ongoing challenges, including the complexity of the rules of origin, and the comparatively high costs of compliance and export for Jordanian producers.
He stressed the need to review the terms of the current agreement to ensure Jordanian products are granted preferential access to UK markets— particularly in light of the United Kingdom's Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which offers more favorable terms to other nations.
McNicol affirmed Britain's 'keenness' to deepen trade ties with Jordan and expressed support for improving the Kingdom's investment environment.
He also emphasized the UK's commitment to sustainable trade initiatives, including support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and stimulating British investment in Jordan's 'vital' productive sectors.
Looking ahead, both sides agreed to accelerate preparations for the upcoming Jordanian-British Business Forum, which they said would provide a key platform to strengthen private-sector ties and explore new areas of economic cooperation.
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