Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KUWAIT1214
2003-04-02 14:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RATIFIES CUSTOMS LAW

Tags:  ECIN ETRD ECON KU GCC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS KUWAIT 001214 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND EB
STATE PASS USTR FOR JBUNTIN
USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/DGUGLIELMI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ETRD ECON KU GCC
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RATIFIES CUSTOMS LAW

REF: A. KUWAIT 673

B. 02 KUWAIT 5543

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001214

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND EB
STATE PASS USTR FOR JBUNTIN
USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/DGUGLIELMI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ETRD ECON KU GCC
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RATIFIES CUSTOMS LAW

REF: A. KUWAIT 673

B. 02 KUWAIT 5543


1. During its April 1, 2003 session, Kuwait's National
Assembly ratified and referred to the Council of Ministers a
draft unified customs law for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
states. Kuwait remains the lone member of the six-nation GCC
yet to formally agree on the legal side of the GCC Customs
Union, which was officially launched January 1, 2003 (ref A).
Kuwait's Amir agreed to the law in principle last year,
enabling Kuwait to join the Customs Union (ref B). The draft
law was scheduled to be passed nearly a year ago, but stalled
in the National Assembly waiting approval. Under the new law,
all goods entering Kuwait will be subject to a 5 percent
customs tax, which is the same percentage in each of the
other GCC member states.


2. Kuwait's Constitution stipulates that the Amir has 30 days
to sign the draft into law. From the National Assembly, the
proposal will be forwarded to the Council of Ministers, who
will then prepare a decree, which, under Article 65 of
Kuwait's Constitution, the Amir must sign into law within 30
days submission from the National Assembly.
JONES