Ali urges EU to ease trade rules for Jordan

AMMAN — Joint action is important to enhance economic cooperation between Jordan and Germany in the fields of trade, investment and technical assistance, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Maha Ali said Saturday.

At a meeting with Bavarian Minister for European Affairs and International Relations Beate Merk and an accompanying delegation, Ali highlighted the importance for the EU to simplify rules of origin procedures to allow Jordanian products to enter the EU market, a ministry statement said. Simplifying these rules would support the Kingdom's economic development through attracting more investments and creating more jobs, she added.

Ali also briefed the delegates on the challenges facing the Kingdom due to unrest in neighbouring countries, adding that border closures with Syria and Iraq led to a sharp drop in exports to the most important traditional markets for Jordanian products.

Merk praised Jordan's role in hosting refugees and expressed Bavaria's keenness to enhance economic cooperation with Jordan, the statement added.