Trade Policy Review
Report by
Qatar
Revision
Pursuant to the Agreement
Establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the Marrakesh
Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), the policy statement by Qatar is attached.
Contents
1 THE GENERAL
POLICY CONTEXT. 4
1.1 Overview. 4
1.2 The Emergence of a New Economic
Context 4
1.3 Qatar's Main Policy Responses. 5
1.3.1 Qatar Second National Development
Strategy. 5
1.3.2 Development of Domestic Markets. 7
1.3.3 Investment Policy. 8
1.3.4 Labour Conditions. 9
1.3.5 Labour Laws. 11
2 MAIN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENTS. 14
2.1 Overview. 14
2.2 Macroeconomic Performance. 14
2.3 Agriculture and Food Security. 17
2.4 Fiscal Policy. 18
2.5 Monetary Policy. 20
2.5.1 Inflation. 22
2.6 Foreign Direct Investment 23
2.7 Preparations for the 2022 FIFA World
Cup. 23
2.7.1 Sports Facilities. 23
2.7.2 Infrastructure. 24
2.7.3 Doha Metro. 25
2.8 Capital Markets. 26
2.8.1 Anti-Money Laundering and Combating
the Financing of Terrorism.. 28
2.9 Tourism.. 29
3 TRADE POLICY
REGIME. 32
3.1 Overview. 32
3.2 Trade Policy Objectives. 32
3.3 The General Authority of Customs. 33
3.4 Customs Procedures. 33
3.4.1 Changes in Export and Import
Procedures. 34
3.4.2 Trade Facilitation Measures. 34
3.4.3 Anti-Smuggling and Customs Security. 35
3.4.4 Customs Valuation. 35
3.4.5 Valuation Dispute Resolution. 35
3.4.6 Customs Agreements. 35
3.5 Rules of
Origin. 36
3.6 Trade Remedies. 36
3.7 Foreign Investment 36
3.8 Investment Promotion. 38
3.8.1 Investment Promotion Agency Qatar 39
3.8.2 Qatar Free Zones. 40
3.8.3 Media City. 42
3.8.4 Higher Education. 42
3.9 Export Promotion. 43
3.10 Double Taxation Treaties. 43
3.11 Intellectual Property. 44
3.12 Competition Policy. 45
3.13 Procurement 46
3.14 Electronic Commerce. 47
4 TRADE
AGREEMENTS. 48
4.1 Bilateral Trade-Related Agreements. 48
4.2 The Gulf Cooperation Council 48
4.3 The World Trade Organization. 50
4.3.1 Disputes. 51
5 REFERENCES. 52