The Egyptian government started communications with the Jordanians to abrogate the imposition of 13 percent tariffs on Egyptian exports of furniture to Jordan, according to Sayed Abul Qomsan, first undersecretary of the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry. Abul Qomsan stressed in a statement at the beginning of the week that we should figure out the Jordanians position before taking hasty measures demanded by domestic furniture exporters in retaliation to the "illegal Jordanian tax. Jordanian statistics indicate that Egyptian imports from Jordan amounted to JOD2.5 million against exports of JOD27.2 million in March 2006. Head of the Egyptian Furniture Export Council Adham Nadim described the Jordanian decision as strange and inconsistent with both countries efforts to promote bilateral trade. The Jordanian authorities had earlier this month imposed the new tariff on Egyptian furniture exports, which enraged Egyptian exporters who believed the measure illegal under the Arab Trade Facilitating Agreement. Nadim confirmed that Egyptian officials were now investigating the legality of the new measure and its impacts on Egyptian furniture exports to Jordan. Data from the Egyptian Furniture Export Council indicate that Egyptian furniture exports to Jordan amounted to $5 million by the end of 2005. Noozz
