Trade and Legal Specialists Discuss Product Safety Measures, Palestine’s WTO Approaches

Birzeit University’s Faculty of Law and Public Administration and the Ministry of National Economy discussed the draft law on “National Product Protection for 2016”  in a consultation workshop held at the university on August 15, 2016.

The draft law was outlined in 2013 and revised recently to ensure a National Trade Policy that is compatible with the WTO principles and disciplines, and is able  to facilitate Palestine’s accession to the organization, and accelerate the country’s integration in the multilateral trading system.

The Dean of the Faculty of Law and Public Administration Yaser Amouri emphasized the faculty’s enthusiasm to take part in projects that will leverage Palestine’s economic and social development.

Director General of Industry and Natural Resources at the Ministry of National Economy Manal Farhan emphasized the vitality of developing an independent and solid economy that contributes in increasing Palestine’s national industries ability to compete in the local and international markets.

Farhan alluded that the aforementioned cannot be achieved without taking into account the existing policies and legislations compliance with the WTO, and their support of domestic economic needs.

Trade Advisor Luis Abu Ghattas introduced the core objectives and principles of the WTO, pointing out to the organizations working criteria in combating dumping, countervailing duties to offset the subsidies and the measure it takes to safeguard domestic industries.

Mahmoud Dodeen, a legal expert at Birzeit University showcased the law and legal principles that are related to dumping and subsidies, and assured that the draft law is vital for securing protection for national products, in addition to ensuring  predictability and reliability in dealing with export markets and international imports. “The increase in the percentage of imports will jeopardize the national industry.”

The workshop comes in line with the cooperation between Birzeit University and the faculties of law at An-Najah University and Al- Quds University for advancing the Master’s program in Criminal law at An-Najah and Al- Quds universities, and economic and financial program at Birzeit University, and in line with the Trade Policy Development Project, implemented by the European Union and the Ministry of National Economy.