WANA (Jul 30) – According to existing forecasts, Iran’s export capacity—if the Free Trade Agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union is properly utilized—can increase up to threefold, rising from approximately 3 billion dollars in 2024 to 12 billion dollars in the current year.

 

Rahim Ravaei, Acting Head of the Office for Coordination of Economic Affairs of East Azerbaijan Governorate, in the meeting on the executive customs dimensions and the capacities of the Free Trade Agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union, referred to Iran’s 27-year-long effort to join the World Trade Organization and stated:

 

“Since 2005, Iran has been present in the WTO as an observer member, and if Iran were accepted as a full member, many of the existing trade barriers would be removed.”

Transporting small-scale trade goods by traditional vessels (tah-lenji) / WANA News Agency

Transporting small-scale trade goods by traditional vessels (tah-lenji) / WANA News Agency

He added: “Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has signed more than 158 trade agreements. He continued: Reports from the Parliament Research Center show that a significant portion of these agreements did not yield desirable results due to failure in observing export priorities and instability in political decisions.”

 

Ravaei also considered the operationalization of the Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Union as an important step toward the development of the country’s foreign trade.

 

The Acting Head of the Office for Coordination of Economic Affairs of East Azerbaijan Governorate continued: “Under this agreement, more than 7,000 categories of goods will be subject to zero tariffs.”

 

He emphasized: “Governments, to support domestic production, may implement protective measures such as imposing duties or setting quantitative limits. In such cases, the tariff advantages will only apply to a specific amount of goods.”

 

Ravaei said: “According to the forecasts, Iran’s export capacity—if this agreement is properly utilized—can increase up to threefold, from approximately 3 billion dollars in 2024 to 12 billion dollars in the current year.”

 

Babapour, the representative of the Provincial Customs in the Joint Working Group for the Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, elaborated on the objectives, duties, and practical points for maximum benefit from this agreement.

 

Afterwards, economic actors who are members of the Eurasia Desk shared their issues and concerns regarding the process of utilizing the capacities of this agreement, especially concerning the issuance of the certificate of origin.