Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar Chamber hosted on Monday a workshop on the Integrated GCC Customs Tariff, in the attendance of Hussein Al-Marri, Head of the Tariff and Origin Section at the Customs Policies and Procedures Department at the General Authority of Customs (GAC).
The workshop focused on introducing the Customs Harmonized System (HS) Code, which is an international standardized numerical method for classifying traded goods on a common basis for customs purposes.
It serves as a global language for assigning specific codes to commodities, known as Harmonized System Codes, which include customs duty categories, collectively referred to as the customs tariff.
During the event, Al-Marri said the State of Qatar started applying the Harmonized System in 1995 and joined the Harmonized System Agreement in 2004. He noted that, starting January 1, 2025, the customs tariff will change from an 8-digit to a 12-digit Harmonized Code, a change that will apply to all GCC countries.
He emphasized the importance of the HS Code in streamlining and organizing the customs clearance process and facilitating the international circulation of goods. It simplifies customs clearance through registration authorities and ensures compatibility with the Harmonized System of the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Additionally, it helps statistical agencies produce accurate annual reports on exports and imports, supports research offices in analyzing market demand and trends, and aids in classifying sub-products. Furthermore, it enables customs agencies to identify products and their applicable customs duty categories.
He underscored the role of the HS Code in facilitating trade negotiations between countries, highlighting that it servesas a global language that ensures the accurate identification of goods to be negotiated for bilateral, regional, or international agreements.
Al-Marri also noted that the HS is managed by the World Customs Organization and is updated every five years, emphasizing that it serves as the foundation for goods classification systems used in most countries worldwide.