RESTRICTED WT/TPR/S/408 9 February 2021 (21-1042) Page: 1/97 Trade Policy Review Body TRADE POLICY REVIEW REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT QATAR This report, prepared for the third Trade Policy Review of Qatar, has been drawn up by the WTO Secretariat on its own responsibility. The Secretariat has, as required by the Agreement establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), sought clarification from Qatar on its trade policies and practices. Any technical questions arising from this report may be addressed to Mr Mark Koulen (tel: 022 739 5224); Mr Cato Adrian (tel: 022 739 5469); Ms Zheng Wang (tel: 022 739 5288) and Ms Takako Ikezuki (tel: 022 739 5534). Document WT/TPR/G/408 contains the policy statement submitted by Qatar. Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the first session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Qatar. This report was drafted in English. WT/TPR/S/408 • Qatar - 2 - CONTENTS SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 6 1 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................ 10 1.1 Main Features of the Economy .....................................................................................10 1.2 Recent Economic Developments ...................................................................................10 1.3 Developments in Trade and Investment ........................................................................16 1.3.1 Trends and patterns in merchandise and services trade ................................................16 1.3.2 Trends and patterns in FDI .......................................................................................19 2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES........................................................................... 21 2.1 General Framework ....................................................................................................21 2.2 Trade Policy Formulation and Objectives ........................................................................22 2.3 Trade Agreements and Arrangements ...........................................................................24 2.3.1 WTO ......................................................................................................................24 2.3.2 Regional and preferential agreements ........................................................................26 2.3.2.1 Regional trade agreements ....................................................................................26 2.3.2.1.1 Gulf Cooperation Council Customs Union ...............................................................27 2.3.2.1.2 RTAs signed by the GCC ......................................................................................28 2.3.2.1.3 Pan-Arab Free Trade Area (PAFTA) .......................................................................29 2.3.3 Other agreements and arrangements .........................................................................29 2.4 Investment Regime ....................................................................................................30 2.4.1 Foreign investment ..................................................................................................30 2.4.2 Business environment ..............................................................................................31 2.4.3 Bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and double taxation agreements (DTAs) ...................32 2.4.4 E-commerce ............................................................................................................32 3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE ........................................................ 34 3.1 Measures Directly Affecting Imports ..............................................................................34 3.1.1 Customs procedures, valuation, and requirements .......................................................34 3.1.1.1 Customs valuation ................................................................................................35 3.1.2 Rules of origin .........................................................................................................35 3.1.3 Tariffs ....................................................................................................................35 3.1.3.1 WTO bindings .......................................................................................................38 3.1.3.2 Preferential tariffs .................................................................................................40 3.1.3.3 Tariff exemptions and reductions ............................................................................41 3.1.4 Other charges affecting imports .................................................................................43 3.1.5 Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing ............................................................43 3.1.6 Anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures ................................................44 3.2 Measures Directly Affecting Exports ..............................................................................45 3.2.1 Customs procedures and requirements .......................................................................45 3.2.2 Taxes, charges, and levies ........................................................................................45 3.2.3 Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing .............................................................45 WT/TPR/S/408 • Qatar - 3 - 3.2.4 Export support and promotion ...................................................................................46 3.2.5 Export finance, insurance, and guarantees ..................................................................46 3.3 Measures Affecting Production and Trade .......................................................................46 3.3.1 Incentives ...............................................................................................................46 3.3.2 Standards and other technical requirements ...............................................................49 3.3.3 Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements ....................................................................53 3.3.4 Competition policy and price controls .........................................................................55 3.3.4.1 Competition policy ................................................................................................55 3.3.4.2 Price controls........................................................................................................56 3.3.5 State trading, state-owned enterprises, and privatization .............................................57 3.3.5.1 State trading ........................................................................................................57 3.3.5.2 State-owned enterprises (SOEs) and privatization .....................................................58 3.3.6 Government procurement .........................................................................................59 3.3.7 Intellectual property rights (IPRs) ..............................................................................60 3.3.7.1 Overview .............................................................................................................60 3.3.7.2 Economic policy context .........................................................................................61 3.3.7.3 Industrial property rights .......................................................................................62 3.3.7.4 Copyright and related rights ...................................................................................63 3.3.7.5 Enforcement .........................................................................................................63 4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR ..................................................................................... 64 4.1 Mining and Energy ......................................................................................................64 4.1.1 Natural gas .............................................................................................................64 4.1.2 Crude petroleum ......................................................................................................66 4.2 Services ....................................................................................................................66 4.2.1 Financial services .....................................................................................................67 4.2.1.1 Banking ...............................................................................................................68 4.2.1.2 Insurance ............................................................................................................72 4.2.1.3 Capital markets ....................................................................................................74 4.2.2 Communications ......................................................................................................75 4.2.2.1 Telecommunications ..............................................................................................75 4.2.2.1.1 Overview ..........................................................................................................75 4.2.2.1.2