WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
8 June 2021  
(21-4688) Page: 1/97 
Trade Policy Review Body  
6 and 8 April 2021  Original: English/anglais/inglés  
Spanish/espagnol/español  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW  
QATAR 
MINUTES  OF THE MEETING  
Addendum  
Chairperson: H.E. Dr. Athaliah  Lesiba  Molokomme  (Botswana)  
This document contains the advance written questions  and additional questions by WTO 
Members , and replies provided by  Qatar .1 
 
 
Organe d'examen des politiques commerciales  
6 et 8 avril 2021  
EXAMEN DES POLITIQUES COMMERCIALES  
QATAR 
COMPTE RENDU DE LA REUNION  
Addendum  
Présidente : S.E.  Dr. Athaliah Lesiba Molokomme  (Botswana)  
Le présent document contient les questions écrites communiquées à l'avance par les 
Membres de l'OMC, leurs questions additionnelles, et les réponses  fournies par  le Qatar .1 
 
 
Órgano de Examen de las Políticas Comerciales  
6 y 8 d e abril de 2021  
EXAMEN DE LAS POLÍTICAS COMERCIALES  
QATAR 
ACTA DE LA REUNIÓN  
Addendum  
Presidenta: Excma.  Dr. Athaliah Lesiba Molokomme  (Botswana)  
En el presente documento figuran las preguntas presentadas anticipadamente por escrito  y 
las preguntas adicionales de los Miembros de la OMC,  así como las respues tas facilitadas por  el 
Qatar .1 
  
 
1 In English only./En anglais seulement./En inglés solamente.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Contents  
 
1  OMAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  3 
2  TURKEY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  4 
3  BRAZIL  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  11 
4  CHILE  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  13 
5  SAUDI  ARABIA, KINGDOM OF  ................................ ................................ ....................  15 
6  JAPAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  17 
7  DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ................................ ................................ ...............................  18 
8  ARGENTINA  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  23 
9  CANADA  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  26 
10  SINGAPORE  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  39 
11  EUROPEAN UNION ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 42 
12  UKRAINE  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  54 
13  UNITED STATES  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 64 
14  THAILAND  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  73 
15  INDONESIA  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  78 
16  THE PHILIPPINES  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 83 
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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1   OMAN  
Ques tion 
Could the Qatari authorities provide us with information on the measures that they took to combat 
COVID19 and to facilitate trade during the pandemic.  
 
Answer  
In 2020, the pandemic led to a decline of 26.3% in Qatar's international trade flows during the first 
half of the year. As a result, the authorities implemented the following fiscal and monetary measures 
to counter the Covid -19 pandemic:  
 
1. Postpone QAR 30 billion (USD 8.24 billion) in unawarded contracts on capital expenditure 
projects.  
 
2. Allocate QAR 3 billion (USD 0.82 billion) in guarantees to local banks to provide soft loans 
(without commission and fees) for affected companies to support salaries and rents.  
 
3. Roll out a stimulus package of QAR 75 billion (USD 20.6 billion) to the privat e sector to support 
and provide financial and economic incentives.  
 
4. QCB implemented measures to encourage banks to postpone private sector loan instalments 
and obligations for six months.  
 
5. QDB postponed instalments of all borrowers for six months.  
 
6. Ask pub lic Qatari entities to increase their investments in the stock exchange by QAR 10 billion 
(USD 2.7 billion) to support Qatar's capital markets.  
 
7. Qatar's fiscal budget for 2020 was developed under the assumption that the price of oil would 
be USD 40 per bar rel. 
 
Qatar also enacted temporary trade -related measures to mitigate the effects of the Covid -19 
pandemic. Measures regarding trade in goods included:  
 
1. Custom duty exemption on food and medical supplies for a period of six months, provided that 
the savin gs were passed onto local consumers  
 
2. Ongoing inspection campaigns to control prices and prevent monopolistic practices  
 
3. Measures to restrict hoarding of surgical masks and other medical supplies, including rationing 
and price controls.  
 
Measures affecting  trade in services included:  
 
1. Closure of educational institutions and implementation of online classes  
 
2. Change in working hours, including retail shops  
 
3. Closure of non -essential businesses.  
 
Most of these measures are expected to remain in place until the effects of the pandemic subside.  
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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2  TURKEY  
SECRETARIAT REPORT  
 
1.2. Recent Developments, pg. 16, para. 1.12  
 
It is stated in the Secretariat Report that " Qatar has been severely affected by the COVID -19 
pandemic. Its rates of registered infections  per capita were at times among the highest in the world 
in 2020. Initial measures taken by the authorities to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the 
economy and the financial sector included: (i) a QAR 75 billion stimulus package for the private 
secto r, as announced by the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management; (ii) the injection of 
QAR 10 billion into the stock market to boost investor sentiment; (iii) a QAR 50 billion repo facility 
(at 0% interest) for domestic banks to allow affected enterprises to defer loan repayments for six 
months; (iv) liquidity support to banks for the provision of new lending at low interest rates; and 
(v) a National Guarantee Program (QAR 3 billion) to fund salary and rental payments in affected 
sectors for thr ee months."  
 
Could Qatar explain the results of the measures that taken by Qatari authorities to mitigate the 
impact of pandemic on the macroeconomic parameters?  
 
Answer  
To mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the economy and the financial sector, the go vernment 
injected a Q AR 75 billion stimulus package, of which Q AR 10 billion were allocated to the stock 
market, Q AR 50 billion to a repo facility (at 0% interest rate) for domestic banks deferring loan 
repayments for six months, liquidity support for the provision of new lending at low interest rates 
and QR 3 billion to fund salary and rental payments in affected sectors  
 
In this sense, it is worth noting that most of the stimulus package went to the financial sector (banks 
including the Qatar Development  Bank and the stock market) and small and medium enterprises. 
This directly helped the financial and real estate sector to contribute positively to GDP growth, and 
indirectly helped other non -oil sectors to be less affected including retail trade, transpor tation and 
related construction activities. So far, it has kept the economy moving without major issues with 
liquidity.  
 
The following table provides a preliminary estimation of Qatar's main macroeconomic indicators 
covering the period during the pandemic.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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4.2. Services, pg. 67, para. 4.14.  
 
It is stated in the Secretariat Report that "The Qatar National Vision 2030, which is aimed at 
sustaining economic prosperity, outlines the long -term economic goals of the country. To achieve 
these goals, t he Second National Development Strategy (NDS -2) 2018 -2022 identified national 
priorities based on detailed sectoral strategies. In particular, the authorities state that the Smart 
Qatar Program (TASMU) focuses on five priority sectors (transport, logistics , environment, 
healthcare, and sports), and aims to drive economic diversification through a national digital 
transformation. Efforts made during the review period include the development of e -commerce 
(Section 2.4.4) and the accompanying e -payment system (Section 4.2.1), and courier services 
(Section 4.2.2.2)."  
 
Could Qatar provide information on the preliminary results of the Second National Development 
Strategy (NDS -2) 2018 -2022?  
 
Answer  
The preliminary results of NDS 2 (2018 -2022) showed that more than 66% of the targeted projects 
and programs were achieved with varying degrees of completion. The authorities consider the 
progress so far to be satisfactory given ongoing external and volatile conditions, particularly oil price 
shocks and the aftermath of t he COVID pandemic. It is also noted that there is still about another 
two years left for the NDS timeframe.  
 
2.4.4 E -commerce, pg. 33, para. 2.66  
 
It is stated in the Secretariat Report that " The Government also made efforts to enhance delivery 
and enable e -payment. For example, Qatar Post, Qatar's exclusive postal service provider, 
introduced an e -commerce service called "Connected", enabling the purchase and delivery of goods 
globally. The Qa tar Central Bank (QCB) initiated its e -payment gateway, Q -PAY, to reduce the cost 
of transactions for businesspeople. The QCB also introduced the Qatar Mobile Payment Gate in the 
WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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first quarter of 2020 to handle all mobile payment services, and planned to i ntroduce the tokenization 
of debit cards in the fourth quarter of 2020, to enhance the security of card data and thereby improve 
consumer confidence in online shopping (Section 4.2.1.1)."  
 
Could Qatar elaborate on the e -commerce services called "Connected"  and "Q -Pay"?  
 
Answer  
"Connected" is Qatar Post's e -commerce service. It is an international shipping service that offers 
shopping options from countries like the United States, the UK and Asian stores and delivers the 
items at competitive rates to Qatar. QPOST is connected to QCB's QPAY payment gateway through 
an acquiring bank to process payment via debit card transactions. For additional information can be 
found on QPost . Visit website at: https://connected.qa . 
 
On th e other hand, QPAY the Qatar Central Bank's Payment Gateway. It offers e -commerce 
transaction using locally issued debit cards. The transactions are routed through the NAPS switch 
and allows the NAPS debit card holders to purchase goods and services online  easily. This payment 
method is supported on all merchants enrolled to this service with a NAPS member bank. The QPAY 
payment page can be integrated to mobile application also.  
 
The payments through QPAY are secure and use the 2 -factor authentication, name ly Debit Card PIN 
and OTP, which has led to increased customer confidence in using this payment method. QPAY is 
hosted at Qatar Central Bank and therefore has visibility on all transactions acquired through QPAY 
and can be checked for Fraud and AML.  
 
THE GOVERNMENT REPORT  
 
2. Main Economic Developments, 2.4. Fiscal Policy, pg. 20, 2.26.   
 
It is stated in the Government Report that "The assumptions underlying Qatar's 2020 budget, 
however, had to be reviewed in light of the combination of the current ove rsupply of oil (October 
2020) and the plunge in demand due to Covid -19 crisis. To this end, the price of crude oil assumed 
for 2020's budget was revised to USD 40 per barrel, down from the original assumption of USD 55 
per barrel (same as 2019). This is ex pected to put some strain on the fiscal account, particularly, in 
light of Qatar's decisive response to the Covid crisis. Indeed, the response includes comprehensive 
fiscal and monetary measures to support the affected sectors (including hospitality, touri sm, retail, 
commercial complexes, logistics) as well as to enhance liquidity of the banking sector. The following 
measures were implemented:  
 
1. Postpone QAR30 billion (USD 8.24 billion) in unawarded contracts on capital expenditure projects.  
2. Allocate  QAR 3 billion (USD 0.82 billion) in guarantees to local banks to provide soft loans (without 
commission and fees) for affected companies to support salaries and rents.  
3. Roll out a stimulus package of QAR 75 billion (USD 20.6 billion) to the private sec tor to support 
and provide financial and economic incentives.  
4. QCB to implement measures to encourage banks to postpone private sector loan instalments and 
obligations for six months.  
5. Direct QDB to postpone instalments of all borrowers for six month s.  
6. Ask public Qatari entities to increase their investments in the stock exchange by QAR 10 billion 
(USD 2.7 billion) to support Qatar's capital markets. "  
 
Question:  
Could Qatar explain the impact of government measures on macroeconomic parameters such as 
fiscal deficit and central government debt?  
 
Answer  
The response of the State to the dual shock of declining oil prices and the spread of Covid -19 can 
be viewed from two perspectives: first, economic , aimed at supporting the private sect or and second, 
fiscal, intended to insulate the fiscal balance from the effects of declining oil prices.  The measures 
were implemented in addition to the health measures taken to protect the public 's health.  
 
During the onset of the pandemic, the State int roduced a timely and effective economic package 
aimed at supporting banks, capital markets and SMEs that are an integral part of the economy. The 
total value of the introduced package was Q AR 75 bn, or about 14.1% of 2020 GDP1.  To this effect, WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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1 Points (2,  4, 5, and 6) mentioned in the question are parts of the package mentioned in point (3) 
and are not additional measures.  
 
The majority of the package was delivered by the Qatar Central Bank in the form of liquidity support 
to local banks (Q AR 50 bn liquid ity support via a 0% repo rate). In addition, the State investment 
funds were directed to increase their investments in the Qatar Stock Exchange by Q AR 10 billion to 
stabilize the market. The remainder of the package, QR 15 billion, was provided to the pri vate sector 
in the form of loan guarantees, customs and rental exemptions, utilities waivers, and the extension 
of tax filing for 4 months.  
The aforementioned breakdown of the economic package illustrates that the majority of the package 
was non-budgetary; it is mostly monetary. The parts of the package with budgetary implications 
were the customs and rental exemptions, and the utilities waivers to the most affected sectors. From 
a budgetary perspective, the support was in the form of foregon e revenue rather than increased 
expenditure, and the total amount of foregone revenue was trivial. Therefore, the effect of the 
economic package on the budget balance of 2020 was insignificant.  
On the other hand, the fiscal measures taken by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) had significant impact 
on the budget balance of 2020. The MoF took active action to reduce operating expenditure by 
streamlining secondary items related to salaries and wages, and current expenditure. Despite having 
Covid -19 related expend itures (medical supplies and vaccines), total operating expenditure for 2020 
was less than originally budgeted. On the Capex side, the MoF postponed Q AR 30 billion worth of 
projects that were neither awarded nor related to hosting the world cup.  
The budget outcome for 2020 was a deficit of Q AR 11.3 billion (USD 3.1 bn). Had the MoF not taken 
the above -mentioned fiscal measures, it is estimated that the budget deficit would have been about 
QAR 39.4 billion (USD 10.8 bn).  Total Public Debt declined in 2 020 from Q AR 398.6 billion (end of 
2019) to Q AR 381.9 billion (end of 2020). Despite declining oil prices and the pandemic, the MoF 
was able to finance the budget deficit in 2020 (Q AR 11.3 bn) and reduce Public Debt utilizing 
available reserves from previo us debt issuances. Moreover, at current oil prices, the MoF is not 
anticipated to require any financing for the State Budget during 2021. Therefore, it is not expected 
that Public Debt would increase in 2021.  
3. Trade Policy Regime, 3.14. Electronic Commer ce, pg. 48, 3.89.  
 
It is stated in the Government Report that "Since 2014, the E -commerce market continued to expand 
in Qatar with estimated B2C and B2B markets of USD 1.2 and USD 1.43 billion respectively in 2015. 
To support the sector's development, the MoTC published in 2015 the Qatar National E -Commerce 
Roadmap 2015, a national policy document that was subsequently updated in 2017, that serves as 
a policy guideline for the sector. Furthermore, postal services were liberalized in 2016 to improve 
the last -mile delivery in the E -commerce value -chain. By 2017, the cost of implementation of a 
digital payment gateway had halved with the introduction of local and regional Payment Service 
Provides in the local market. In that same year, the MoTC launched Qatar's  E-Commerce Information 
Portal ( http://www.ecommerceqatar.qa /) to facilitate information to both businesses and 
consumers. " 
 
Question:   
Could Qatar elaborate on the impact of the Qatar National E-Commerce Roadmap 2015 on e -
commerce development and the potential benefits of E -commerce Information Portal?  
 
Answer  
The national eCommerce roadmap goes to building an e -commerce strategy as it was an untapped 
sector in need of development. It also clari fied the sector 's weaknesses and disincentives and 
addresse d them as areas that need to prioritize potential development as has been the case since 
2015. At the same time , work is underway to enable electronic payments, enhance delivery, 
stimulate consumer  adoption, and empower merchants.  
 
The eCommerce information portal provides  support  to move forward and implement Qatar 's 
strategy by providing the necessary tools for various stakeholders, whether merchants or 
consumers. The e -commerce information portal  was also  developed to facilitate access to 
information, which so far has stimulated consumer adoption through easy e -commerce, consumer 
protection, and merchant empowerment. In this sense, t he e-commerce information portal provides WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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information and support  that did not exist before in electronic payments , goods delivery and 
consumer behavior.  
 
4. Trade Agreements, 4.2. The Gulf Cooperation Council, pg. 49 -50, 4.4.  
 
It is stated in the Government Report that "Qatar maintained an active participation in the activities 
of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) during the period under review. The MOCI worked to support 
three key initiatives at GCC level:  
• To finalize the requirements of the GCC Customs Union . The MOCI  worked in coordination 
with the relevant authorities to implement all decisions issued within the framework of the 
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, by activating all joint work mechanisms 
and operationalizing them with the objective of  removing all obstacles to complete the 
Customs Union;  
• To complete the Gulf Common Market . The initiative, which was launched at the Doha 
Summit 2008, has been actively supported by Qatar both before and after its announcement. 
To this end, the MOCI conti nued to work to create the required regulatory framework and 
establish coordination channels amongst the concerned authorities. Moreover, it worked to 
facilitate economic activities undertaken by the citizens of the Cooperation Council countries 
and ensure  good conduct of procedures in this regard;  
• To establish a unified food security network in the GCC States . The initiative, which was 
launched by the GCC's Trade Cooperation Committee, is actively supported by Qatar. In this 
regard, the MOCI worked in coo rdination with the concerned parties to identify views and 
opinions on the extent of the possibility of achieving the goals set forth by the initiative —
these are, to create an integrated food security system between the states of the Council 
and to secure adequate food stocks in times of crisis. The issue is still being studied by the 
competent technical committees within the framework of the Cooperation Council. ''  
Question:   
Could Qatar explain the tools and measures used to develop cooperation on trade and investment 
with third countries in line with its obligations arising from being a member of the GCC Customs 
Union?  
 
Answer  
Qatar 's pursue of bilateral trade and investment agreements do not conflict with its obligations and 
commitments at the GCC.  In effect, Qatar signed commercial, economic and technical agreements 
with its trading partners  and, in the process,  establish ed a joint committee overseen  by the minist ers 
of the two countries . As for the investment , Qatar signed several agreements on encouragement 
and protection of investments, that do not conflict with Qatar 's obligations and commitments at  the 
GCC as well . Both of these instruments are described in detail in the Government 's 2014 and 2021 
reports (in both instances, chapter 4).  
 
THE SECRETARIAT REPORT  
 
2. Trade and Investment Regimes, 2.3. Trade Agreements and Arrangements, 2.3.2. 
Regional and preferential agreements, 2.3.2.1. Regional t rade agreements, pg. 26, 2.25.  
 
It is stated in the Secretariat Report that "At the regional level, Qatar is a member of the GCC, and 
a party to the Pan -Arab Free Trade Area (PAFTA) Agreement. As a GCC member, Qatar concluded 
RTAs with Singapore, and with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States (Iceland, 
Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). The GCC announced ongoing negotiations for RTAs with 
Australia and with Japan. From 2015 to 2019, the ratios of Qatar's trade with EFTA, GCC, and PAFTA 
members to its total merchandise trade declined, while the ratio of Qatar's bilateral trade with 
Singapore increased (Chart 2.1). Trade relations with the GCC suffered from the diplomatic 
difficulties that Qatar has experienced since 2017. In June 2017, the K ingdom of Bahrain, the 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates severed diplomatic relations with Qatar and 
banned Qatar -registered airplanes and ships from utilizing their airspace and sea routes. Saudi 
Arabia also blocked Qatar's only land c rossing. "  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Question:   
Could Qatar give further information regarding its response to sustain the economic stability in the 
country, especially for the security of supply on food, during the blockade period imposed by some 
member states of the GCC?  
 
Answer  
Qatar 's response to the challenges created by the events of 2017 was a coordinated policy action 
across sectors and governmental agencies.  Food and water security was prioritized as was a 
coordinated response to ensure continuity and delivery of maj or infrastructure projects.  Several 
agencies played a major in role in the initial response; mainly, the Ministry of Commerce and 
Industry, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar Development Bank, Ashghal, Doha Metro 
and Mawani Qatar . Please refer  to the government, which contains a detailed account of the policy 
response implemented in the following sections: 1.3.2, 2.3, 2.7.2, 2.7.3, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.13.  
 
2. Trade and Investment Regimes, 2.4. Investment Regime, 2.4.4. E -commerce, pg. 33, 
2.63.  
 
It is stated in the Secretariat Report that "Pursuant to the Electronic Commerce and Transactions 
Law No. 16 of 2010, the MOTC regulates the provision, use, and development of e -commerce, with 
its key objectives being reducing and eliminating barriers in e -commerce ." 
 
Question:  
Could Qatar give further information regarding the key outcomes derived from the Electronic 
Commerce and Transactions Law No. 16 of 2010 in terms of reducing and eliminating barriers in e -
commerce?  
 
Answer  
The laws of commerce previously complemented the traditional method or ways of conducting 
commerce. Such laws, when followed by means of electronic conduct of commerce, automatically 
created some barriers. The intention of the electronic commerce and trans actions law was to 
introduce a legal framework fit for conducting commerce or business online. That said, one of the 
barriers of eCommerce in Qatar was the absence or lack of e -signature legitimacy.  
 
The intended objective of the law of 2010 was to give legitimate basis to transactions conducted 
online, recognizing online agreements and transactions as true and not differentiating in their 
authenticity of the agreements/transactions conducted the traditional way. The projected outcome 
was to facilita te the process on businesses as e -signatures save time, resources, and have been 
proven to ensur e accuracy . E-signatures eliminate the need for physical presence, and the law draft 
recognizes e -signatures as legitimate regardless of the geographic location  of the place of the 
business of the signator y, thus , encouraging businesses to endorse digital tools that would possibly 
contribute to their advancement.  
 
Another barrier to eCommerce was consumer behavior online, in which the general sentiment was 
a lack of trust in conducting any online purchases with overarching fears of the public that, as online 
consumers they would not be protected simply because of the medium they have used to purchase 
the services/products. The law introduced articles that ensure online consumer protection, setting 
the needed guidelines for merchants, and granting online consumers equal rights as offline 
consumers in matters of consumer protection. Online transactions and sales have increased since 
then. Establishing legalities and  the policies that have followed are only one factor contributing to 
that increase.   
Qatar has future plans to measure the impact of the law over the last ten years and introduce needed 
amendments accordingly.  
 
3. Trade Policies and Practices by Measure, 3.3. Measures Affecting Production and Trade, 
3.3.3. Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, pg. 53, 3.69.  
 
It is stated in the Secretariat Report that "Qatar's SPS regime has remained largely unchanged since 
the previous Review in 2014. The main  legislation on sanitary and phytosanitary requirements is the 
Regulation of Human Food Control (Law No. 8 of 1990) and its amendments (Law No. 4 of 2014 and 
Law No. 20 of 2017). The Law regulates food control to ensure food safety and suitability includin g 
trade, packaging/labelling, and transport of both imported and locally produced food. According to WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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the Law, food should comply with approved technical regulations' requirements before handling or 
consumption. The Law includes penalties and fines for nonc ompliance. Other relevant laws include 
those on veterinary quarantine (Law No. 14 of 2003, as amended by Law No. 9 of 2008), agricultural 
quarantine (Law No. 24 of 2005), and consumer protection (Law No. 8 of 2008). " 
 
Question:  Could Qatar explain the SPS requirements in imports of milk and dairy products? Are 
these requirements consistent with the main principles of the SPS Agreement? Does Qatar plan any 
amendment on the implementation of these measures?  
 
Answer  
The State of Qatar is keen to fulfil all its  international obligations, including SPS agreements.  The 
Ministry of Public Health issued a circular asking for some requirements related to few types of dairy 
products including UHT milk, white cheese, and Mozzarella . These requirements related to shelf life, 
labelling and fortification with Vitamins.  The requirements applied on National products and imported 
products without any bias as required by SPS agreement.  
 
Shelf life of UHT milk and other products was determined based on consider ation of Qatar 's high 
temperature, consumer 's preferences for more fresh dairy products  and economic and cultural 
reasons.  Labelling and adding vitamins was done to comply the requirements of relevant GCC 
Technical Regulations which applied in all GCC countries, no t only Qata r. 
 
At the moment, there are no plans to amend the implementation of these measures.  
 
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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3  BRAZIL  
PART I: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW: TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
 
Page 75 (Paragraph 4.37)  
"(…) Ooredoo announced in May 2018 that it was the first operator in the world to launch a live 5G 
network on the 3.5 GHz spectrum band. Vodafone is also demonstrating significant progress towards 
5G by deploying networks on the 3.5 GHz frequency, primarily around Doha . Mobile Internet data 
use dominates the mobile telecoms market."  
 
Questions : 
Could Qatar give more details on the spectrum assignment process carried toward the mentioned 
deployments on the 3.5 GHZ frequency? More specifically, what was the applicable methodology, if 
any, adopted to set the reserve prices for the associated radiofrequencies?  
 
Answer  
The Communication Regulatory Authority (CRA) has undertaken a closed consultation approach with 
the Service Providers (SPs) to discuss specific o bligations prior to any assignment in the 3.5 GHz 
band. The SPs agreed to rollout obligations, and each SP was granted 100 MHz bandwidth within 
3.5 GHz in January 2019 with a rollout obligation of >= 40% of active 4G sites including all FIFA 
2022 World Cup  stadiums to be upgraded to 5G by 31 December 2020.  
The CRA is also currently discussing the coverage obligations and associated QoS requirements for 
5G with the SPs, upon which additional spectrum within 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz bands will be assigned 
for the S P that accepts the new obligations.  
 
Page 76 (Paragraph 4.45)  
"To date, 10 individual licenses and 3 class licenses have been issued, and no new licenses have 
been issued since 2013."  
 
Questions : 
Does Qatar have plans for promoting measures to incentivize new licenses?  
 
Answer  
The CRA continuously monitors market developments and needs and introduces new licenses as and 
when needed. Currently, the CRA is reviewing the market of international connectivity (e.g., 
international submarine & terrestrial cables a nd cable landing stations) and may introduce new 
licenses in the near future to enhance the international connectivity in the country.  
 
Pages 76, 77 (Paragraphs 4.47, 4.48)  
" (…) Interconnection and access conditions are regulated by the CRA, which sets wh olesale services 
charges if the service provider is designated as dominant, or if the service provider is engaged in 
those services where a wholesale reference offer to the CRA is required. (…) Ooredoo is required to 
file its proposed tariffs for pre -appro val in the form of a tariff filing including a tariff document and 
a cost justification, demonstrating the absence of anticompetitive conduct, which includes pricing 
below cost or excessive pricing."  
 
Questions : 
How does the CRA set charges on wholesale ma rkets and verify if prices on retail markets are below 
costs? Has Qatar implemented any cost models with these goals? If so, could the country elaborate 
on the methodologies that support those models?  
 
Answer  
Ooredoo submits annually to the CRA a top-down fully allocated costing model, which calculates 
costs of all services (both retail and wholesale). The costing model is audited by an independent 
auditor and reviewed and approved by the CRA. Ooredoo – noted as a dominant service provider - 
has to  submit all retail tariffs for fixed telecommunications services for approval by the CRA including 
the cost justification. The cost justification uses values from the costing model and adjusts them 
based on the new service features and its expected volume.  If the cost justification and the proposed 
tariff indicate either price below costs or excessive price, the tariff is not approved by the CRA.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Wholesale prices are regulated using cost and volume information collected every 3 years from all 
operators. Ave rage forward -looking cost for a period of next 3 years is calculated based on the data. 
Wholesale prices are set on the level of these costs with a 3 -year glidepath.  
 
Page 76 (Para 4.45)  
4.45.  The Telecommunications Law stipulates two types of telecommunic ations licenses: individual 
licenses and class licenses. An individual license is issued by the Minister of Transport and 
Communications to a particular company for a limited period, and it applies only to that company. 
A class license is issued by the CRA  and applies to a class of companies of a certain type, authorizing 
them to provide the specific telecommunications services as long as they adhere to the terms and 
conditions of the license. Class licenses can be amended or revoked at any time at the sole  discretion 
of the CRA. To date, 10 individual licenses and 3 class licenses have been issued, and no new licenses 
have been issued since 2013. In 2018, the CRA approved the provision of Internet services on -board 
aircraft at all altitudes, through an amen dment to the class license for the provision of public 
telecommunications services on -board aircraft.  
 
Questions : 
Can Qatar give more information regarding licensing framework? Can either the individual licenses 
and/or class licenses incentivize the develo pment of the supply on the telecom market of the Open -
RAN model and the 5G standalone service architecture? If yes, how so.  
 
Answer  
Individual licenses are issued by the Minister of Transport and Communications following a licensing 
process managed by the CRA, in which the license applicant is required to submit a comprehensive 
license application supported by solid technical, business and financial plans demonstrating their 
technical and financial capabilities. If the license application is satisfactory, t he CRA prepares the 
draft license and submits it to the Minister with a recommendation to issue it. The final decision lies 
with the Minister. The process includes a public consultation conducted by the CRA where the 
stakeholders and other interested parti es are invited to review the draft license and submit their 
comments and views.  
Regarding the class licenses, they are prepared by the CRA to meet specific market needs and 
published on the CRA's website. The process includes a public consultation where th e stakeholders 
and other interested parties are invited to review the draft license and submit their comments and 
views. License applications are not required. Eligible parties can operate under a class license as 
long as they adhere to the terms and condi tions of the license (in some cases, prior registration 
and/or approval by CRA is required as set out in the license).  
All licenses are technology neutral.  
 
Page 76 (Para 4.46)  
4.46.  The Telecommunications Law also regulates the distribution of frequency s pectrum, which is 
considered as a limited natural resource owned by the State. The CRA is in charge of organizing and 
managing its use. According to the CRA's Annual Report, the expansion to the "automated spectrum 
monitoring system" and the "automated fre quency management system" began in 2019. The 
authorities consider the two systems keys to managing and monitoring the use of radio spectrum, 
especially for sectors such as oil and gas, aviation, maritime, and infrastructure development.  
 
Questions : 
Infrast ructure sharing is critical for the deployment of service in certain areas. Given that, can Qatar 
supply additional information regarding spectrum sharing in their regulatory regime?  
 
Answer  
The CRA has issued Spectrum Licensing Regulatory Framework in whi ch the regime is illustrated. 
CRA follows the light licensing regime for the shared spectrum (the spectrum which is assigned on 
non-exclusive, non -protection and non -interference basis) with specific technical criteria. 
Documentation can be shared if requi red. 
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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4  CHILE  
WT/TPR/G/40807 - Informe del Gobierno de Qatar  
1 THE GENERAL POLICY CONTEXT  
1.1 Overview  
1.3.2 Development of Domestic Markets  
 
Paragraph 1.14, p.7  
"Critical to Qatar's policy response was the coordination between QDB and Qatar's Public Works 
Authority (Ashghal). In effect, since mid -2017 Ashghal began to face serious difficulties importing 
construction material from all countries as many carriers used ports in neighbouring countries, 
particularly in the UAE, to tranship cargoes to Qatar.  The government took advantage of the fact 
that Hamad Port had already become operational by this time and thus coordinated the importation 
of material directly to Qatar. Qatar Port Management Company (Mawani Qatar) launched five direct 
shipping lines betw een Hamad Port and the Ports of Sohar and Salalah in Oman, Nava Shiva in India, 
Izmir in Turkey and Karachi in Pakistan. The total number of shipping routes increased to 23 routes".  
Question:   
Paragraph 1.14 mentions the diversification of Qatar Port Mana gement Company (Mawani Qatar) 
shipping routes. In this context, Chile would appreciate if Qatar could share if there is any interest 
in including shipping lines with destinations in South America, in the middle or long term, taking 
advantage of the vast ne twork of ports existing in that continent.  
Answer  
Mwani  Qatar is constantly seeking to expand the shipping lines network that serves Hamad Port as 
part of its strategy to transform Qatar into a vibrant regional commercial center. To this end, it 
welcomes cooperation with the actors in the ports and maritime tr ansport sector from all over the 
world. The aforementioned expansion strategy of the shipping lines network depends on trade 
exchange and the volume of exports and imports to and from the State of Qatar and the region.  
2 MAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS  
2.3 Agri culture and Food Security   
 
Paragraph 2.15, p.18  
"The difficulties faced by the private sector also led to a renewed effort to address the longer -term 
challenges to ensure food supply in Qatar. To this end, the MME led a cross governmental effort that 
culminated in a comprehensive policy, i.e. Qatar National Food Security Strategy 2019 –2023. The 
strategy rests on the fulfilment of four strategic pillars, i.e.:   
• International trade and logistics . The aim, in this case, is to ensure that "trade routes are 
diversified so risk -exposure is limited" and that contingency plans exist for alternative routes in case 
of need;   
• Domestic self -sufficiency . The aim in this area is to develop an efficient agricultural production 
based in Qatar and to develop a regulatory framework to provide incentives for investment in 
agricultural production;  
• Strategic reserves . The objective is to develop an "adequate but sensible" food reserve capacity 
that can act as a buffer in times of crisis that includes both inputs and outputs;  
• Domestic markets . The aim is to be create the conditions, including the necessary regulations, 
to move food around the country as effi ciently as possible and with minimal waste."  
Question :  
Paragraph 2.15 mentions " Qatar National Food Security Strategy 2019 –2023" as a comprehensive 
policy, implemented by Qatar authorities, together with highlighting its four pillars. One of them is 
"International Trade and Logistics ", and its aim is to ensure that " trade routes are diversified so risk -
exposure is limited " and that contingency plans exist for alternative routes in case of need. In this 
regard, Chile would appreciate if Qatar could share i f it is considered – or could be considered in the 
future - to generate trade bilateral links with South American countries.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 14 - 
 
Answer  
As a matter of principle, Qatar always welcomes conversations with potential alternative trade 
partners. In such cases, a report is prepared to identify the most critical products for which Qatar 
seek alternative trade routes and sources, plus the opportunities for bilateral trade with Chile in 
particular or South American countries in general. The Food Security Depa rtment at Ministry of 
Municipality and Environment can readily facilitate and support such discussions.  
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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5  SAUDI ARABIA, KINGDOM OF  
2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
2.1 General Framework  
2.2 Trade Policy Formulation and Objectives  
Paragraph 2.17 p. 23  
 
2.17. Qatar's trade policy is formulated within the broader framework of the Qatar National Vision 
2030, which is a roadmap towards becoming an advanced society capable of sustainable 
development by 2030. Its Second National Developm ent Strategy (NDS -2) 2018 -202215 aims at 
sustaining economic prosperity through economic diversification, infrastructure and private -sector 
development, and natural resources management (Section 1.1). The NDS -2 set targets to diversify 
production through i ncreasing public investment in infrastructure, promoting private investment, 
establishing industrial and service zones, and supporting the development of small and medium 
sized enterprises (SMEs).  
 
Question 1 : 
We commend Qatar for its' National Vision 2030 and its Second National Development Strategy. 
Could Qatar provide us with further information on the initiatives to develop SMEs?  
 
Answer  
Since 2014 Qatar has implemented several initiatives across different sectors to continue to support 
the development of local SMEs. In effect, these efforts are part of a larger push to diversify its 
economy away from the energy sector. For example, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry 
launched an initiative to unify the de finition of SME being used in Qatar in order to facilitate policy 
formulation. Moreover, Qatar Development Bank offers a range of financial and non -financial support 
to local SMEs, including a wide offer of business advisory services (a description of all the services 
can be found in https://www.qdb.qa/en/products -services ). It should be noted that all of QDB's 
financial services are offered through both conventional and Islamic products. QDB also assu mes 
market risk on behalf of market participants.  
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment also provides support to private sector SMEs engaged 
in agricultural activities, including fishing, through permit facilitation and supply of rented land for 
agricultural purposes, amongst other initiatives. Another policy -driven initiative to support Qatar's 
SMEs was through the new law on public procurement. Indeed, the new statute eliminated onerous 
bond requirements that were previously required in order to f acilitate access to the procurement 
market to local SMEs.  
The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and Doha Metro also developed plans to promote SME 
participation in the various projects under their scope. In this case, this included awareness 
campaigns as we ll as foregoing some procurement requirements to facilitate access. Initiatives were 
also coordinated across agencies. For example, in July 2017, Ashghal launched the Ta'heel program 
in coordination with QDB to accredit national companies (mostly SMEs) so that they could work with 
Ashghal as a supplier, mostly of construction material, in Ashghal's pipeline of projects.  
Local SMEs also have access to Qatar's Free Zones where they can obtain support with licensing, 
special treatment of imported inputs and di rect access to dispute resolution fora. Going forward, 
Qatar will continue to develop its support for local SMEs in order to lay the foundations of sustainable 
private -sector led economic growth and development.  
 
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
Paragraph 4.2.4  p. 18  
4.2.4 Tourism  
 
4.90. The Government provides several incentives to attract investors in the tourism sector. The 
QNTC's Investment Promotion Unit (IPU) plays a role in identifying potential investors to undertake 
tourism -related projects. Those proje cts may be externally presented by a third party or internally 
identified and researched alongside the Product Development Unit….  
 
Question 2:   
We congratulate Qatar for the development of its tourism industry and its legal framework. Could 
Qatar provide us with more information about the role of the Investment Promotion Unit in this area?  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 16 - 
 
Answer  
Qatar National Tourism Council setup the Investment Promotion Unit —as Qatar Tourism Authority 
shifted to QNTC —in order to facilitate and promote investme nts that are aligned with and support 
the tourism strategy. The IPU supports companies as they develop their projects and proactively 
looks for new opportunities, whilst trying to connect investors and operators with the right 
government entities, like the  Ministry of Municipality and Environment, so that projects can be 
launched.  
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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6  JAPAN  
Question 1:  
Report by the Government (WT/TPR/G/408)  
2 MAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS  
2.4 Fiscal Policy  
(Paragraph 2.18, page 18 -19) 
and 
 
Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/408)  
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1.4 Other charges affecting imports  
(Paragraph 3.30, page 43)  
What is the timeline for GCC Member State governments to abolish the selective tax on energy 
drinks, which is currently applied based o n the way of marketing and the level of stimulant 
substances contained?  
 
Answer  
Qatar issued Law No. (25) of 2018 regarding selective tax, which is based on the unified tax 
framework signed by the six GCC countries. The excise tax represents an investment in Qatar's 
future by building a healthier society, in which the tax is a selective tax on consumption that is 
applied to certain commodities that are generally considered harmful to human health, with the aim 
of which is to reduce such consumption. In cons equence, no timeline has been established for the 
abolition of the excise tax on energy drinks.  
 
Question 2  
Japan would like to request Qatar to provide the description of proposed tax system on energy drinks 
and sweetened drinks (currently under discussio ns), hopefully with improvement to address the 
concerns expressed by Members.  
 
Answer  
The excise tax that is applied in the State of Qatar is a specific percentage tax imposed on goods 
that are harmful to human health (food, beverages, or tobacco). The percentage is based on the 
product's shelf retail price.  
 
As a consumption tax, the excise tax is ultimately borne by the final consumers, but collected earlier 
in the supply chain by taxable persons (importers, producers or tax warehouse kee pers). Excise tax 
is triggered once the excise goods are released for consumption.  
 
The following goods are subject to Excise Tax:  
• Carbonated drinks (non -flavoured aerated water excluded) – 50% tax rate  
• Energy drinks – 100% tax rate  
• Tobacco products  – 100% tax rate  
• Special goods – 100% tax rate  
 
For more information, please visit https://gta.gov.qa/en/what -is-excise -tax/. 
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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7  DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  
RESUMEN  
SUMMARY  
Pág. 6  
Page 6  
Párrafo 1.  [Paragraph 1]  "Qatar is a hydrocarbon -rich country with a small indigenous 
population relative to its expatriate community. Some 1.9 million foreign workers constitute 
approximately 95% of the economically active population. Per capita GDP amounted to USD 62,800 
in 2019. As stated in Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar is pursuing economic diversification in the 
coming decade, seeking to build an economy less reliant on petroleum resources and with a larger 
private sector. Construction of infrastructure for t he staging of the FIFA World Cup 2022 was a 
major economic stimulus, but most of these projects were finalized or are about to be completed. " 
 
1. ¿Qué tan sostenible puede ser este sistema a los fines de diversificar la economía y los 
sectores productivos del  país, por el impacto que tiene dicho modelo en los fondos públicos?  
[How sustainable is this system in diversifying the economy and the country's 
productive sectors, given the impact that the model has on public finances?]  
 
2. ¿Cuáles son las oportunidades para promover el desarrollo de una economía del 
conocimiento, basada en el capital humano local? (planteado en el Punto 17 de la 
introducción)  [What are the opportunities to promote the development of a 
knowledge -based economy , based on local human capital? (stated in point 17 of 
the introduction)]  
 
3. ¿Qué medidas están tomando para incentivar esta inclusión del capital local?  [What 
measures are being taken to incentivize the inclusion of local capital?]  
 
Answer to Questions 1 to  3 
Answer 1  
Qatar views the current economic development path to be sustainable as it is based two 
complementary economic diversifications paths. On the one hand, policies seek to expand the 
domestic production base whilst, on the other hand, diversify its  assets, including natural, capital 
and human resources, as well as institutional management capabilities. Qatar has so far made 
tangible progress in developing the capital resources needed for increasing the country's internal 
and external connectivity, i ncluding communications, transportation infrastructures (port, airport, 
metro, rail, road networks).  
Moreover, Qatar is now trying to improve its institutional and legislative framework. In particular, at 
the end of 2018, Qatar enacted laws to enhance the performance of public finance, the most 
important of which are: the establishment of the General Tax Authority according to Emiri Resolution 
No. (77) of 2018, and Law No. (24) of 2018 on income tax, and finally Law No. (25) of 2018 on The 
Excise Tax.  
Answe r 2 
Qatar has followed a two -fold strategy to develop its knowledge -based economy. First, it has 
invested heavily in the development of home -grown human capital through its university system 
(particularly at Qatar Foundation and Qatar University) as well a s elementary and secondary 
schooling system. Please review Section 3.8.4 of the Government Report for a detailed account of 
the existing higher education system in Qatar. At the same, Qatar has sought to promote 
investments in highly technical areas that serve to bridge the gap between existing domestic 
capabilities and international standards in  knowledge -based clusters around the world. To this end, 
investments in knowledge -based activities is part of IPA's marketing strategy (please see 
Section  3.8.1 for a detailed description of IPA's activities). The dual strategy has so far had tangible 
results in significantly elevating the proportion of the population with university education and 
attracting higher value -added activities.  
 
Answer 3  
Qatar continues to develop its policy to provide the right incentives for domestic capital to be saved 
inside Qatar or be developed in the form of SMEs operating inside Qatar, including those oriented to 
exports. In particular, Qatar has a distinctive ecosystem of support for the development and 
implementation of new ideas, particularly those around technological development, brought forth by WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 19 - 
 
local entrepreneurs. In effect, these efforts are part of a larger push to diversify its economy away 
from the energy sector. Qatar Development Bank offers a range of financial and non -financial 
support to entrepreneurs, inclu ding a wide offer of business advisory services.  
Local financial capital is also given incentives to be invested in Qatar. To this end, establishing and 
expanding the Qatar Stock Exchange services, has played a pivotal role in the economic development 
process by providing mechanisms to deepen economic stability at the micro level. This has included, 
amongst others, providing a mechanism for local companies to trade a variety of financial products 
in a transparent and fair manner, creating incentives to attr act foreign and domestic savings and 
creating opportunities to participate in the establishment of economic development projects by small 
local investors so that they can develop their cash assets and expand their savings' returns.  
 
1 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
1.1 Main Features of the Economy  
Pág. 10  
Page 10  
Párrafo 1.2.  [Paragraph 1.2] "The aim of Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030), launched in 
2008, is to transform Qatar into an advanced country capable of sustaining its own development 
and providing a high standard of living for all of its people for generations to come by 2030. Qatar 
seeks to develop an economy that is diversified and thus less dependent on hydrocarbons, with 
investment moving towards knowledge -based industries and a privat e sector that is growing in 
importance. QNV 2030 is implemented through consecutive five -year National Development 
Strategies. The ongoing Second National Development Strategy highlights manufacturing, finance, 
professional and scientific activities, touri sm, logistics, and information and communication as 
priority sectors."  
 
4. A los fines de lograr dichos objetivos, ¿Qué otras medidas y políticas está implementando 
Qatar para lograr dichos objetivos y desarrollar los sectores que han sido destacados como 
prioritarios en la Estrategia Nacional de Desarrollo?  [With the aim of meeting those 
objectives, what other measures and policies is Qatar implementing to meet those 
objectives and develop the sectors that have been highlighted as prioritie s in the 
[Second] National Development Strategy?]  
 
5. ¿Qué políticas, incentivos y medidas están tomando para promover la inclusión y 
participación de empresas privadas en los sectores económicos?  [What policies, 
incentives and measures are being taken to pro mote the inclusion of private sector 
companies in those economic sectors?]  
 
Answer to Questions 4 to 5  
Question 4 
The State of Qatar has picked various sectors to be strengthened tourism is one of them. To underpin 
the strategy, His Highness the Amir and H E the Prime Minister have approved a clear strategy with 
an aligned roadmap and investments to drive tourism and unlock its developmental potential. At the 
moment, regulatory changes are being implemented to accelerate the sector's potential expansion 
whilst the leadership team has been engaging with senior industry experts across travel trade and 
marketing.  
 
Ministry of Transport and Communications introduced its strategy in 2017, which offered a 5 -year 
plan. It was then divided into 154 initiatives: 40 in itiatives in the supporting administrative units, 
26 in Land Transport Sector, 15 in Maritime Transport, 25 in Information Technology, 13 in 
Cybersecurity and 35 in Digital Society. It also included providing full support for Qatar Digital 
Government Strat egy (25 initiatives) and TASMU (23 initiatives), in addition to developing a 
Comprehensive Plan for Crisis Management as per Cabinet directives.  The strategic objectives of 
MOTC's sectors and administrative units are ease of access, financial and environme ntal 
sustainability, security and safety, smooth mobility, economic development, establishing of a 
flexible, smart and integrated infrastructure, empowering a digitally advanced workforce and society, 
enhancing confidence and digital security, developing t he smart government agenda and benefiting 
from technology in developing a regionally competitive smart economy. MOTC is overseeing and 
carrying out national priority projects to contribute to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030 and 
has also adopted so me more projects stipulated in the Qatar 2nd National Development Strategy 
2018-2022. This aims to support the development of the economic infrastructure, achieve economic 
diversification and private sector development, support institutional development, s ervice provision, 
and financial management.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 20 - 
 
Among these projects:  
• Hamad Port expansion through establishing CT2. CT2 development consists of 4 phases. Full 
operation of Phases 1 & 2 will start before the end of 2022, taking the port's capacity to 3 
million TEUs per year. Phases 3 & 4 will be developed later to raise the port's operational 
capacity according to local market's needs.  
• Launching new direct and indirect shipping routes with several harbors that have major 
influence on global shipping busi ness. Hamad Port has to date been linked with 119 shipping 
routes; 29 direct and around 90 indirect routes. They have been connecting Doha with the 
world since the port was officially opened in 2017.  
• Designing and building strategic food security utilities , which is one of the key strategic 
projects in progress within Phase 1 of Hamad Port Project. The project's facilities operate as 
a fully standalone terminal, working in full capacity, for unloading, warehousing, loading, 
transporting refining and packagi ng of 3 basic commodities; rice, raw sugar, and edible oils. 
It also includes a production line for animal feed. The project includes also silos and 
reservoirs for long -term storage, huge warehouses with special equipment and infrastructure 
to be able to s tore commodities for at least 2 years to secure needs for 3 million people. The 
project's total area is about 53 hectares, including the 500 -meter -long quay for vessels to 
berth. The quay is 12.5m deep. The project is expected to complete in January 2021.  
• Hamad International Airport expansion to raise its capacity to 53 million travelers a year 
through expanding the airport, providing parking spaces for commercial aircraft, increasing 
the fuel and luggage capacity, expanding the passenger terminal, upgradin g flight systems 
in addition to all other requirements for the development of the infrastructure utilities. It is 
scheduled to complete and deliver those works before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.  
• Electric transformation projects for buses and electric ve hicles, which the Ministry is currently 
carrying out in cooperation with concerned authorities. This supports Qatar's steps towards 
a greener future, helps achieve an economic and environmental balance to ensure the 
sustainability of infrastructure project s for the transportation sector, as well as support 
economic growth and development of transportation by employing alternative and clean 
energy according to latest environment -friendly global systems. A hybrid vehicle policy has 
been prepared in coordinati on with Kahramaa. MOTC is currently preparing a draft law on 
regulating electric vehicle and preparing the standard specifications of such vehicles, in 
addition to establishing 100 parking spaces for them in the first phase. MOTC is also working 
with Mowas alat (Karwa) on plan to convert all taxis to electric vehicles by 2022. As part of 
the electric vehicle strategy, public buses, government school buses and Doha Metro feeder 
buses will gradually shift to electric buses, thus achieving the percentage that i s required to 
reduce harmful carbon emissions from buses by the year 2030, in addition to cementing the 
concerted efforts that aim to protect environmental sustainability. Under the strategy, such 
a shift will support building an infrastructure for an inte grated electric public transit system 
in the country. Several permanent depots, distributed in a well -considered geographical 
order, will be established in various areas across the country. The strategy also targets a 
shift in 25% of public transit fleet o f buses to electric buses by 2022 and the use of electric 
buses in main services during the FIFA World Cup Championship 2022.  
• A field survey of road assets. Work on this project is carried out using the latest and 
advanced technology to build an informatio n system on road assets' performance and the 
impact of the environment and climate on them. For that, MOTC is deploying a system, a 
first of its kind in the region, equipped with high -definition cameras to detect road defects 
(road stretches and paths, bri dges and tunnels) with 3mm precision. This also includes a 3D 
profiling of the surface of the roads, capturing defects as small as 1mm and measuring road 
slipperiness to further improve road safety and reduce traffic accidents.   
• Qatar's National Artificial  Intelligence Strategy endorsed by MOTC in collaboration with the 
Qatar Computing Research Institute and contribution from senior experts from global 
universities. This strategy is the first of its kind between the government and a research 
body. It aims a t transforming to AI and harnessing it optimally to secure Qatar's economic 
and strategic future as envisaged on QNV 2030.  
• The Qatar Smart Program (TASMU) is designed specifically to accelerate the achievement of 
all pillars of QNV2030. TASMU will serve as  a platform for the realization of a digital economy 
and a smart future. It will be implemented in partnership with the private sector to create 
and develop smart Qatar services in accordance with a contemporary regulatory framework 
that promotes openness,  stimulates innovation and supports the development of safe and WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 21 - 
 
reliable smart services, as well as attracts talents and develops skills. TASMU focuses on 5 
sectors: transportation, logistics, environment, healthcare and sports.  
• Expanding Internet Exchange  Points (IXPs), developing shared government eservices 
program, developing government ICT shared infrastructure, providing high -speed 
uninterrupted telecommunication services, unique and robust transportation services, e -
government portal, opening self -service centers, government data management systems, 
developing ICT and shared applications infrastructure for ministries and government entities 
and developing QDG training academy 2019 -2022.  
Question  5 
At the moment, Qatar National Tourism Council is still a government entity. However, a 'spin off' 
with a private sector company is being contemplated to move faster and drive the transformation of 
the sector. As mentioned, industry experts from the private sector are helping with the 
implementation of va rious initiatives. In this manner, the authorities expect that the private sector's 
involvement will introduce market knowledge and efficiency to boost the sector's development.  
Regarding Transport and communication sector, and for MOTC projects that aim t o engage the 
private sector by awarding a major portion of the project (60% at least) of its project tenders to 
local companies during the phases of conceptualization, execution, development and operation, 
among those key projects:  
• Establishing QTerminals (a JV between Qatar Ports Management Company "Mwani Qatar" 
and shipping and logistics company Qatar Navigation "Milaha") for operating Phase 1 of 
Hamad Port. QTerminals was awarded a concession for designing, developing and operating 
Phase 2 of Hamad Port (CT2).  
• Launching a project for the development of the factors that enable TASMU services and 
developing TASMU Platform in parallel with the private sector's participation in building a 
platform through a collaboration that includes Ooredoo, Microsoft and m alomatia (under 
implementation).  
• Providing IoT -enabled smart parking solutions (under implementation).  
• Launching a community program for electric bike renting for temporary use across the city 
(under implementation).  
• Launching projects and calls for bids o n projects that mock Smart Qatar cases to address 5 
sectors: transportation, logistics, environment, healthcare and sports while ensuring 
collaboration with SMEs (under implementation).  
• Enabling analytical statistics for transit systems, metro stations and  airport stations (under 
pre-final review).  
• Self-service kiosks project; a tripartite agreement is to be signed with government entities. 
The company executing the project will be coordinating with various entities to make their 
eservices available and acc essible on these kiosks that will be installed across the country 
(being negotiated).  
• Real-time variable -speed vehicle monitoring solutions to accommodate traffic and target 
specific vehicles on roads (being negotiated).  
• Ferry project (Water Taxi) between ferry stops at HIA, Hamad Port, MIA and Lusail City as 
a first phase. Government is to establish the required infrastructure. Private sector is to be 
responsible for the business (proposed).  
• Truck parking project in Mesaieed to offer parking spaces for tru cks instead of roadside 
parking. Such parking spaces can also be used during major events to offer parking for 
public buses (awaiting MME's final approval on concept designs).  
• Greenfield investment fund project for the funding of emerging companies.   
1 ECO NOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
1.3 Developments in Trade and Investment  
1.3.1 Trends and patterns in merchandise and services trade  
Pág. 18  
Page 18  
Párrafo 1.18.  [Paragraph 1.18]  "Qatar's trade in services balance remains in deficit (Table 1.4). 
Although services exports grew significantly in recent years, they have yet to exceed USD 20 billion 
per year. Imports of services are valued at USD 35 billion to USD 40 billion per year. Tr ansportation 
and travel services dominate both exports and imports. While the expansion of Qatar Airways 
contributed to rapid growth in passenger travel on the export side, the shipping of Qatar's exports WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 22 - 
 
of LNG, crude oil, and other industrial goods remai ned an important component of its services 
imports. In addition, a substantial portion of Qatar's services imports in recent years were linked to 
the staging of the FIFA World Cup in 2022."  
 
6. ¿Qué medidas implementará Qatar para sostener dichas inversiones,  tanto en instalaciones 
deportivas, como en la oferta turística en el largo plazo, tomando en cuenta la posible 
volatilidad de dichas inversiones de cara a la pandemia del Covid -19? [What measures 
will Qatar implement in the long -run to sustain investment,  both in sporting 
complexes as well as in its tourism offer, given the potential volatility of such 
investment in the context of the Covid -19 pandemic?]  
 
Answer  
Qatar is committed to 'Delivering Amazing' with its bid for the FIFA World Cup 2022. Investments in 
public infrastructure and the required sports facilities, i.e. the 8 World Cup stadiums are in full swing, 
despite Covid -19 and remains a top priority for the State of Qatar. In addition to the FIFA World 
Cup, Qatar won the right to host the  Asian Games 2030, which is expected to represent a minimal 
incremental cost in view of the decade long investments in sports events and facilities.  
In addition to the sporting infrastructure, the hospitality sector will see an increase between end of 
2020 till the FIFA World Cup of an additional 70% more hotel rooms coming online and entering the 
market. Furthermore, Qatar National Tourism Council has been working with the industry to develop 
more products that cater to future travel & tourism needs with i nvestments into key properties in 
Qatar that have been recently launched.  
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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8  ARGENTINA  
PREGUNTAS FORMULADAS POR LA REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA  
QUESTIONS MADE BY THE REPUBLIC OF ARGENTINA  
 
En el inciso 16 del Informe de la Secretaría (WT/TPR/S/408) se explica que Catar notificó a la OMC 
que no mantiene ninguna empresa comercial del Estado. Sin embargo, el informe indica que el 
Estado concede derechos exclusivos a algunas empresas para importar o exportar determinados 
productos.  
Paragraph 16 of the Secre tariat report (WT/TPR/S/408) explains that Qatar notified the 
WTO that it does not maintain any State -Owned Enterprise. However, the report indicates 
that the State provides exclusivity rights to some companies to import or export certain 
products.  
 
Pregun ta 1:  ¿Cuáles son puntualmente esos derechos exclusivos y a qué empresas se 
asignan?  
Question 1: What are specifically those exclusivity rights and to what companies have 
they been conferred?  
 
Answer  
The State of Qatar does not grant exclusivity trading rights. However, it does have stated -owned 
enterprises in key strategic sectors, some of which, do engage in trading activities. In some cases, 
the sectors where these companies operate are highly sensi tive (such as food distribution) whilst 
others are amongst the sectors that are key to Qatar's economic and social sustainability (e.g. oil 
and gas, down streaming refinement, etc.). The Secretariat's Report ( Section 3.3.5.2) contains a 
table with a list o f such companies.  
 
El inciso 16 también indica que el régimen de contratación pública de Catar registró cambios 
significativos durante el período objeto de examen: la nueva ley sobre contratación pública, que 
entró en vigor en 2016 y fue modificada de nuev o en 2018, descentralizó el proceso de licitación y 
los productos de fabricación nacional pueden beneficiarse de una preferencia de precios del 10% en 
el marco de la contratación pública.  
Paragraph 16 also indicates that the public procurement regime in Qa tar was overhauled 
during the period under review: the new public procurement law, which came into force 
in 2016 and was again modified in 2018, decentralized the tender process and nationally 
manufactured products could be given a preference of up to 10% in the context of public 
procurement.  
 
Pregunta 2 : ¿Cuáles fueron específicamente los cambios incorporados al Régimen de 
Contratación Pública?  
Question 2: What were the specific changes incorporated to the Public Procurement 
Regime?  
 
Answer  
Qatar overhauled its public procurement framework in 2015 with the objective of introducing greater 
efficiency to the process through Law No. (14) of 2015 and several additional statutes that 
implemented it. The main changes introduced were: (i) the abolition of  the Central Tenders 
Committee and, in consequence, the decentralisation of the tendering process, (ii) streamlining the 
process to resolve tender disputes, (iii) permitting the use of two -stage tendering and (iv) exempting 
SMEs from the performance bonds requirements and payment guarantees.  
 
In particular, the introduction of the two -stage tendering process represented a significant departure 
from the previous regime. Besides the other 4 methods permitted under the law, i.e. limited tender, 
practice, compe tition and direct contract (Article 2 of Law No. (14)), the two -stage approach permits 
closer collaboration with the contractor/supplier in the definition of the scope of work as well as the 
beginning of the service provision whilst the details of the scop e are fully worked out.  
 
All the details of Qatar's current public procurement regime can be found in Section 3.13 of the 
Government Report.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 24 - 
 
En el párrafo 3.107 se menciona que durante el período objeto de examen Catar ha introducido 
diversas reformas en su sistema de propiedad intelectual (PI) encaminadas a promover el desarrollo 
de una economía basada en el conocimiento.  
Paragraph 3.107 mentioned that Qatar introduced several reforms to its Intellectual 
Property (IP) regime during the period under review  with the objective of promoting the 
development of a knowledge -based economy.  
 
Pregunta 3:  ¿Podrían describir brevemente estas reformas?  
Question 3: Could you please briefly describe these reforms?  
 
Answer  
The reforms include the following:  
1. Establishing a committee to develop the national strategy for intellectual property and 
innovation (Council of Ministers Decision No . 45 of year 2017). The committee represents a 
wide variety of sectors and government bo dies, and has the mandate of assessing the status 
quo and preparing the national strategy in cooperation with relevant parties, including WIPO.  
2. Issuing Law No . (10) of 2020 on the Protection of Industrial Designs and Models.  
3. Reviewing current procedures relating to intellectual property protection to streamline 
processes.  
4. Enhancing the capacity of intellectual property protection bodies.  
5. Engaging with the local community to enhance the utilization of intellectual properties. Such 
efforts include opening  patent awareness centers near universities and industrial zones.  
 
El párrafo 3.7 del Informe de la Secretaría de la OMC explica que solo pueden realizar importaciones 
las empresas y sociedades cataríes inscritas en el registro de importadores. Con ese fi n, el Ministerio 
de Comercio e Industria (MOCI) expide un certificado en el que se indica que el registro se ha llevado 
a cabo y la forma de actividad para la que se ha registrado la empresa. También es necesario ser 
miembro de la QCCI.  
Paragraph 3.7 of th e WTO Secretariat report explains that only Qatari business and 
enterprises included in the importers' registry can import.  To this end, the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry (MOCI) issues a certificate that commercial registration was 
completed, indicatin g the form of activity that a business is registered for. Membership in 
the QCCI is also required.  
 
Pregunta 4:  ¿Cómo es el procedimiento para qué una empresa extranjera pueda ser 
miembro de la QCCI?  
Question 4: What is the process through which a foreign company can become a member 
of QCCI?  
 
Answer  
Every private company or establishment needs to become a member of the QCCI, as per the 
provisions of Qatar Chamber Law issued by His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar. The process 
is straight forward and is done through the Qatari government's Single Window. Through it, 
membership to the QCCI is issued di rectly at the same time that commercial registration is issued 
(and also when it is renewed). In this manner, procedures for doing business are direct and 
streamlined.  
 
En el párrafo 3.10. el Informe de la Secretaría de la OMC indica que mediante la Decisi ón Nº 12 de 
2015 del Director General de Aduanas, Catar actualizó determinados aspectos operativos del proceso 
de valoración. Entre otras cuestiones, la Decisión regula los litigios y los plazos relacionados con las 
decisiones en materia de valoración. Ade más, la Circular Administrativa Nº 75 de 2019 facilita la 
aceptación de facturas comerciales sin que sea necesario demostrar la relación entre el vendedor y 
el productor de las mercancías.  
Paragraph 3.10 of the WTO Secretariat report indicates that Qatar u pdated certain 
operational aspects of the valuation process in Chairman's Decision No. 12 of 2015. 
Among the issues addressed were disputes and time limits related to valuation decisions. 
In addition, Administrative Circular No. 75 of 2019 facilitates the acceptance of 
commercial invoices without a need to provide proof of relationship between the seller 
and producer of goods.  
 
Pregunta 5:  ¿Podrían dar mayores detalles respecto de qué otros aspectos operativos del 
proceso de valoración se han actualizado ad emás de los indicados?  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 25 - 
 
Question 5: Could you please provide details regarding other operational aspects of the 
valuation process that have been updated besides those already mentioned?  
 
Answer  
Valuation is carried out in accordance with the GATT Valuation Agreement and the Prime Minister's 
Resolution No (9) of 2013. Resolution No. (9) amended some of the provisions of the Prime Minister's 
Resolution No (21) of 2004, which contains the implementing regulations of Qatar's Customs Law. 
Further details can be f ound in Section 3.4 of Qatar's 2021 Government Report.  
 
En el párrafo 3.43 el Informe indica que Catar no tiene zonas de elaboración para la exportación, 
aunque si dispone de algunas zonas francas, de conformidad con el Decreto Ley N O. 21 de 2017, 
mientras que la  Visión Nacional 2030 prevé el desarrollo de nuevas zonas económicas especiales.  
Paragraph 3.43 of the [Secretariat] report indicates that Qatar does not have any specific 
export processing zones, although it does have some free  zones pursuant to the Decree 
Law No. 21 of 2017 while the development of further special economic zones is foreseen 
according to the Qatar National Vision 2030.  
 
Pregunta 6:  ¿Podrían ampliar la información respecto al desarrollo de nuevas zonas 
francas es peciales en el marco del programa  Visión Nacional 2030?  
Question 6: Could you please provide further information regarding the development of 
new special economic zone foreseen in the Qatar National Vision 2030?  
 
Answer  
The government entity that operates what used to be termed Special Economic Zones is called 
Manateq (please visit https://www.manateq.qa/en -gb/MediaCenter/Pages/News.aspx  for further 
details on Manateq). It operates four logistical areas (Al Wukair, Aba Al Saleel, Al Wakrah, Barakat 
Al Awamer, and Jarry Al Samour), and three industrial areas (Al Mesaieed, Al Karana, and Al Khor). 
Four storage areas were also added to the Manateq to com plement its logistical activities. These 
warehouses will be awarded through a tender to the developers as part of the "build, operate and 
transfer" (BOT) process. Logistics complexes provide a distinct infrastructure with strategic logistical 
sites close t o Hamad Port and key gateways, communication, water and electricity networks and 
integrated roads. In conjunction with the warehouses, it will provide processing and assembly 
workshops, commercial showrooms, and a variety of offices and workers accommodati on. 
Furthermore, Manateq recently signed an agreement with local service providers, including banks, 
real estate developers and telecom companies, to help facilitate services and financing. The 
economic goal of designing Manateq's logistic parks is to acce lerate economic growth by incentivise 
businesses and SMEs to invest in a diverse range of sectors such as aluminium, steel, automotive, 
electronics, construction material, and food and beverage, as well as offering close to 15 million 
square metres, distri buted across all four parks —Jery Al Samur, Al Wakra, Birkat Al Awamer and 
Aba Saleel —to promote economic diversification.  
There are 92 retail premises and 172 residential accommodation units that are available for rent 
that are readily available to investo rs through Manateq. In addition, investors that signed to operate 
in Manateq's four logistics parks can apply for 60% of their project financing against land and 
personal guarantees from Qatar Islamic Bank (the incentives are part of larger support for SME s). 
A BOT agreement was signed with GWC to develop 1.48 km2 Al Wukair Logistics Park with a total 
investment of 1.5 billion Qatari Riyals.  
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 26 - 
 
9  CANADA  
1. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT  
 
Part II – Trade and Investment Regimes  
 
Page 23 (Para 16-17) 
 
The Secretariat Report notes "Qatar's trade policy is formulated within the broader framework of the 
Qatar National Vision 2030, which is a roadmap towards becoming an advanced society capable of 
sustainable development by 2030. […]".  
 
Question:  
1. Could Qatar please share examples of trade policy measures, if any, aimed at 
implementing the Fourth pillar of Qatar's National Vision 2030?  
 
Answer  
The objectives of environmental protection and development, contained in the Fourth Pillar of QNV 
2030, are aligned with Qatar's trade policy in the following manner:  
 
1. Qatar's Agricultural Strategy. The strategy seeks to import substitute foodstuffs that meet 
three criteria: (i) Qatar has comparative advantages in their production, (ii) their output is 
not appro priate for long -term storage and (iii) production does not deplete the country's 
groundwater sources. In consequence, Qatar limits the scope of products subject to import 
substitution support to those that do not put its groundwater sources at risk.  
 
2. Imple mentation of several Service Level Agreement between the General Authority of 
Customs and various domestic public entities in order to streamline the issuing of 
environmental approval on imported goods.  
 
3. Emphasis on foreign investment promotion that inclu des the use and/or development of AI 
activities and environmentally friendly technologies in Qatar.  
 
4. Promote investment and development of environmentally friendly tourism activities.  
 
5. The use of non -traditional policies to curb the negative externalities  of gas extraction and 
shipping. To this end, Qatar Petroleum (QP) moved to implement different initiatives, 
including: CO2 reinjection projects at Ras Laffan, recovery of the Jetty Boil -off Gas during 
LNG loading operations, flare reduction, various energ y efficiency enhancement projects and 
projects to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  
 
6. Measures to reduce Qatar's carbon footprint by reducing its reliance on fossil sourced 
electricity. QP entered into a strategic joint venture with companies specia lized in renewable 
energy production to deliver around 1600 megawatts in Qatar.  
 
Qatar has so far not imposed any import restriction on products and services that may induce 
negative environmental externalities. Further trade policy measures that protect the environment 
are under study though.  
 
Page 25 (Para 2.23)  
 
As noted in paragraph 2.23 of the Secretariat Report, as of 30 June 2020, a number of notifications 
require updating or renewal, in the areas of agriculture (domestic support and export subsidies), 
import licensing procedures, quantitative restrictions, customs valuation, subsidies, state -trading 
enterprises, and GATS.  
 
Question:  
2. Could Qatar provide an update on its outstanding domestic support and export subsidy 
notifications?  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 27 - 
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Page 30 (Para 2.47)  
 
The Secretariat Report notes in paragraph 2.47 that Qatar's Law No. 1 of 2019 of Regulating the 
Investment of Non -Qatari Capital in Economic Activities permits up to 100% in virtually all economic 
sectors, with certain e xemptions, and subject to approval by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry 
(MOCI).  
 
Question:  
3. Could Qatar elaborate on the considerations MOCI gives towards such making such 
approvals?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Page 30 (Para 2.49)  
 
In paragraph 2.49, the Secretariat Report notes that the Law No.1 of 2019 Regulating the 
Investment of Non -Qatari Capital in Economic Activities does not apply to "companies and individuals 
who are assigned to extract or manage natural resources under a concession or special con tract, to 
the extent the provisions of such contract do not contradict the provisions of the new Law."  
 
Question:  
4. For greater clarity, could Qatar provide more information on reservations/restrictions 
concerning foreign ownership and investment into the natural resources sector?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Page 30 (Para 2.51)  
 
The Secretariat Report notes Qatar's creation of the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) as a 
measure to promote and facilitate foreign direct investment into the country using a sector -specific 
investment promotion agenda.  
 
Question:  
5. Could Qatar provide more information on the IPA's activities, including which sectors the 
agency is targeting?  
 
Answer  
IPA's vision is to secure sustainable investments into Qatar to drive the country's kno wledge 
economy and its process of diversification. Its mission includes the promotion and marketing of 
Qatar as an investment destination, in line with Qatar's economic development objectives of 
attracting and facilitating investments that enable the devel opment of home -grown skilled labour 
with high value -added impact on the economy.  
 
IPA's institutional strategy is based on Qatar's evolving value proposition, its areas of sustainable 
growth and long -term investment trends, thus, coordinating Qatar's offer  for potential foreign 
investors, including both financial and fiscal incentives (namely on corporate tax rates).  
 
At the sector level, IPA seeks to attract investments into tourism, advanced manufacturing (including 
chemicals and electronics), infrastruc ture (including Public Private Partnerships and real estate), 
agriculture and technology development. A second sector focus includes financial and professional 
services, entertainment (including sports) and logistics.  
 
The profile of investors sought is p rimarily mid to large investors with a secondary emphasis on 
SMEs. Both Tier 1 and 2 investors are targeted with an equal focus on both new and existing 
investors. By 2026, IPA expects to achieve an FDI stock (measured as a proportion of GDP) in line 
with international benchmarks.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 28 - 
 
Part III – Trade Policies and Practices by Measure  
 
Page 34 (Para 3.3)  
 
Canada notes that "Qatar has implemented a single window electronic customs clearance system 
(Al-Nadeeb )" to facilitate customs procedures for imports. According to the Secretariat report, "a 
key objective of the single window system and improved risk management is to reduce the 
percentage of inspections to less than 5%."  
 
Question:  
6. Could Qatar specify how  it determines whether or not to conduct inspections of imports?  
 
Answer  
The figure of the Economic Operator was implemented and the Economic Operator Guide was issued 
as part of the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement. In addition, the Green -List 
Importers System was activated and represents the largest volume o f import trade in Qatar, so that 
customs release is made through the Green Line System without inspection. Accordingly, it is 
necessary to conduct a post accounting review on these companies. The small remainder of imports 
is subjected to a risk management  system, where some incoming shipments are targeted for 
inspection.  
 
Page 35 (Para 3.8)  
 
According to the Secretariat Report, "pre -approvals is needed for certain products, including 
pharmaceuticals, alcohol beverage (for tourist use), receivers and transm itters, and certain classes 
of chemical materials".  
 
Questions:  
7. Could Qatar confirm if pre -approvals apply to strategic and military items?  
8. If so, could Qatar specify which authority is responsible for issuing pre -approvals?  
 
Answer 7  
Military items are e xempted under Article 102 of Customs Law No. 40 of 2002, which states, " Imports  
for all sectors  of the military  forces  and internal  security  forces,  such as ammunitions,  arms,  
equipment,  military  means  of transport  and parts thereof  and any other  materials , shall be exempted  
from customs  taxes  "duties"  by a resolution  of the Council  of Minister".  This only requires a letter 
from the Military Forces stating that the shipment is their own.  
 
Answer 8  
Please see the answer to Question 7.  
 
Page 43 (Para 3.32)  
The Secretariat Report indicates that although Qatar does not have import licensing procedures, the 
importation of certain goods can be restricted or prohibited for reasons of security, health, or 
religion.  
 
Questions:  
9. Could Qatar specify whether strategic or military items are prohibited or restricted for 
reasons of security?  
10. If so, could Qatar specify which strategic or military items are prohibited or restricted for 
import, and the relevant government authority?  
 
Answer 9  
The only bodies authorized to import military items are the government entities responsible for 
maintaining internal and external security, namely the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of 
Interior. Such items can only be imported upon the approval  of these authorities.  
 
Answer 10  
Please see the answer to Question 9 . 
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 29 - 
 
Page 44 (Para 3.34)  
 
The Secretariat Report stipulates that "Qatar is party to certain international environmental 
conventions, notably the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete  the Ozone Layer (since 
1996), the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and 
their Disposal (since 1995), the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for 
Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticid es in International Trade (since 2005), the Stockholm 
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (since 2005), and the Convention on International Trade 
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (since 2001), under which trade restrictions 
may be imposed on goods considered harmful or dangerous, or for environmental protection 
purposes".  
 
Question:  
11. Could Qatar please provide a list of trade restrictions it imposes as a Party to these 
environmental agreements?  
12. Does Qatar have other environmen tal trade restrictions not based on multilateral 
environmental agreements?  
 
Answer to question 11  
Most of the restrictions imposed by Qatar related to international environmental agreements to which 
it is a party refer to:  
• Vienna Convention for the Protect ion of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol.  
• Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Chemicals and 
Pesticides in International Trade.  
• Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.  
• The Basel Convention on the Control o f Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes 
and Their Disposal.  
 
Answer to question 12  
Qatar does have additional environmental trade restrictions not based on multilateral environmental 
agreements based on the hazardousness of the substance, according to the safety data list for those 
materials.  
 
Page 45 (Para 3.41)  
 
The Secretariat Report notes that "Qatar does not have an export licensing system. However, some 
goods may be subject to controls due to Qatar's participation in international env ironmental 
conventions.  
 
Question:  
13. Could Qatar confirm that there are no export controls, restrictions, or prohibitions 
applicable to strategic or military items?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Page 48 (para 3.52)  
 
The Secretariat Report notes that "In addition to various incentives for foreign investors, the QDB, 
which is a 100% state -owned bank, provides Qatari SMEs and start -ups with a wide range of 
supports. Joint -venture (including foreign invested) companies can benefit from the QDB's support 
as long as they are Qatari -based. The QDB's financial support programmes include Al -Dhameen 
(credit guarantee), Istithmar (SME equity), Ithmar (seed funding), green house financing, export 
finance, export insurance, and direct lending (Table 3.6). For example, companies in high export -
oriented sectors may be eligible for loans under direct lending programmes."  
 
Questions:  
14. What are the high export -oriented sectors in which companies are eligible for loans under 
the direct lending programmes?  
15. What is the eligibi lity criteria for QDB's financial support programmes, including the Al -
Dhameen (credit guarantee), export finance, and direct lending programmes?  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 30 - 
 
16. Is support under the Al -Dhameen (credit guarantee), export finance, and direct lending 
provided on commercial terms? Do the terms of this support differ from those provided by 
private banks on commercial terms?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Page 48 (Table 3.6 Main financial support programmes provided by the QDB)  
 
In the Secretariat report, the summary for direct lending is that "The QDB also provides funding for 
the development of the technology sector, sectors that extensively use available raw materials, 
sectors that are highly environment friendly and use only r enewable energy sources, high export -
oriented sectors, and projects for reducing Qatari reliance on imports for a particular product."  
 
Questions  
17. How does Qatar, or the QDB, define "highly environment friendly" sectors?  
18. Could Qatar provide additional det ails on funding? For example, what type of funding is 
offered and if it is offered to foreign companies?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Page 48 (Table 3.6 Main financial support programmes provided by the QDB)  
 
As noted in the Table 3.6, Qatar has financial supp ort programmes targeting agriculture activities:  
 
"Greenhouse financing - The Programme offers funding for building greenhouses to promote 
agriculture and self -sufficiency in agricultural products. It finances 100% of the project's value with 
a maximum of  QAR 70,000"  
 
"Direct Lending - The QDB provides loans to start -ups and existing companies in the manufacturing, 
education, healthcare, services, agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors"  
 
Questions:  
19. Could Qatar elaborate on its plans to report thes e programmes under its domestic support 
notifications?  
20. Could Qatar elaborate on how it plans to ensure transparency in reporting individual 
agricultural activities eligible for funding from the QDB going forward?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Page 49 (Para 3.53 ) 
 
"As mentioned in the previous Trade Policy Review report (2014), the State subsidizes both  
electricity and water for locally owned companies, but the authorities note that these subsidies  
decreased significantly during the review period and are expected to continue to decline. According 
to the authorities, Kahramaa, the sole supplier for the electricity and water sector, continues its 
strategy of achieving full market rates. Also, land is s ubsidized for agriculture and some 
manufacturing activities, subject to official approval from the authorities. According to the 
authorities, Qatar still supports agricultural activities but less than before, and its aim is to eventually 
stop this support around the mid -2020s".  
 
Questions:  
21. Could Qatar provide an update on its effort to stop the subsidization of agricultural 
activities?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 31 - 
 
Page 50 (Para. 3.59)  
 
The Secretariat Report states that: "During the review period, some WTO Mem bers in the TBT 
Committee expressed their specific trade concerns (STCs) about Qatar's […] shelf -life requirements 
for cheese. However, the General Organization for Standardization (QS) confirms adherence to the 
normal commenting period of 60 days, during which all comments and enquiries from WTO Members 
are received, answered, and taken into account."  
 
Question:  
22. Building on the questions submitted by Canada to Qatar, both during the recent TBT 
Committee Meetings as well as through Qatar's official enquiry  point on March 26th, 2020, 
Canada would appreciate it obtaining further additional clarifications on the measure 
pertaining to shelf -life requirements for cheese as follow:  
a. Canada understands that paneer cheese would meet the definition of "white cheese"  
according to this circular. Is this correct?  
b. Could Qatar provide details on how the shelf -life requirements were determined?  
c. Canada notes that certain cheeses can only be presented in low -fat form and that the 
addition of vitamins to milk is obligatory. C ould Qatar please provide details on how 
these requirements were determined?  
d. Canada would also appreciate clarifications on the requirements to add vitamins to 
milk and the low -fat only requirement for certain white cheeses. Could Qatar please 
explain how these requirements were determined and share any relevant information.  
 
Answers to question 22  
a. Yes, this is correct  
b. This is determined according to guidance from prime minister's office, considering Qatar's 
weather, consumer's preferences for more fresh da iry products and economic and cultural 
reasons.  
c. This is the requirements of relevant GCC Technical Regulations which applied in all GCC 
countries, not only Qatar.  
d. Adding Vitamins to UHT Milk is one of relevant GCC Technical Regulations requirements 
which applied in all GCC countries, not only Qatar. Adding Vitamins to White Cheese is not 
required.  
 
Page 54 (Par 3.74)  
 
Canada notes the following text in the secretariat report: "The MOPH periodically issues a list of 
prohibited food produc ts importing into Qatar with justification. There are three types of banned 
items relating to: […] (ii) the reports of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on the 
epidemiological situation of specific disease in a country (on a temporary basis); and (iii) special 
cases such as the lack of information about a country's epidemiological situation in which the risk 
transmitted for imported food (on a temporary basis). Such precautionary measures (on a temporary 
basis) are in accord with the SPS Agreem ent."  
 
In May 2007, the OIE determined Canada to be "controlled BSE country" which allows Canada to 
export all beef under conditions that Canada fully meets. Based on its OIE status, in March 2009 
Canada officially requested Qatar to approve all Canadian beef for export to Qatar. In September 
2014, Qatar officially approved the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) certificate for all 
Canadian beef. In February 2020, unexpectedly and without prior notice, Qatar significantly reduced 
Canadian beef access t o boneless beef from animals less than 30 months of age.  
 
Questions:  
23. Could Qatar please explain its February 2020 decision to reduce Canada's beef access to 
boneless beef from animals less than 30 months despite its previous decision in September 
2014 to allow imports of all Canadian beef?  
24. Could Qatar explain its decision to reduce Canada's beef access despite Canada's status as 
"controlled BSE country" as determined by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).  
25. Could Qatar advise when it expects to restore full beef access to Canadian in alignment 
with OIE standards?  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 32 - 
 
Answer to question 23  
Qatar notes and agrees that Canada is listed in OIE as one of a controlled BSE risk 
(https://www.oie.int/en/animal -health -in-the-world/official -disease -status/bse/list -of-bse-risk-
status/ ). Our requirements regarding importing Cow / Veal meat and meat products from controlled 
countries aligned with OIE recommendation mentioned in chapter 11.4.11 and 11.4.8 of the 
terrestrial animal health code include:  
• Meat must be deboned.  
• Meat must be free from hazard parts related to BSE which are: brains, eyes, spinal cord, 
skull, and vertebral column  
• Slaughtere d cows do not exceed the age of 30 months (official attestation needed).  
 
This applies to all commercial and non -commercial shipments from all regions from relevant 
countries.  
 
Answer to question 24  
Please refer to the answer to question 23.  
 
Answer to question 25  
Qatar expects this take place when Canada is classified by the OIE as Negligible BSE risk.  
 
Page 55 (Para 3.80)  
 
The report notes the numerous notifications and addenda submitted during the review period 
regarding Qatar's sanitary and phytosanitary measures.  
 
Question:  
26. Does Qatar have any planned upcoming sanitary and phytosanitary regulatory initiatives 
not specifi cally referenced in the TPR reports that will impact agriculture, forestry, or 
aquatic product imports?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Page 59 (Para 3.98)  
 
The report notes that "Qatar is neither a party nor an observer to the plurilateral Agreement on 
Governmen t Procurement under the WTO."  
 
Questions:  
27. Does Qatar have any plans or interest in joining the Agreement on Government 
Procurement?  
28. If not, would Qatar be able to explain its concerns, if any, with becoming a party to the 
agreement?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Page 59 (Para 3.100)  
 
The report stipules that "Under the previous procurement legislation, the CTC was responsible for 
processing public -sector tenders above QAR 5 million. The new Law disbanded the CTC, and allows 
each government entity to create its own tender committee, whose members must include 
representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Diwan Audit Bureau. The Government 
Procurement Department, within the Ministry of Finance, was established to oversee government 
tenders. The n ew Department also set up a website to consolidate all tenders and provide relevant 
information to interested bodies."  
 
Question:  
29. Could Qatar explain the reasons for disbanding the Central Tenders Committee, thereby 
decentralizing the tendering process?  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 33 - 
 
Answer  
The new Public Procurement Law (Law No. 24 of 2015) overhauled Qatar's model of public 
procurement to introduce greater efficiency to the procurement process. One of the fundamental 
changes introduced was the decentralization of the process, thus, allowing each public entity to 
undertake their own procurement process. The switch thus rendered the CTC unnecessary and was, 
therefore, disbanded. The details of the new framework can be found in the government report 
(section 3.13).  
Page 62 (Para 3 .114)  
 
Per the Secretariat Report, according to Qatar's Patent Law, patents must not contradict Shariah 
law, or violate public order, ethics, or national security.  
 
Question:  
30. In an effort to better understand the scope of application, can Qatar provide exa mples (if 
applicable) of when Shariah law may have been cited as a reason for why a patent 
application may have been denied?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Page 63 (Para 3.120)  
 
Per the Secretariat Report, "the implementing regulations of the Copyright Law have not been 
issued, resulting in the delayed implementation of the Law. Against this backdrop, the Minister of 
Economy and Commerce issued Decision No. 410 of 2014, with a view to encouraging copyright 
owners to register their rights."  
 
Question:  
31. Can Qatar cl arify whether, in light of the delayed implementation of the Law, copyrighted 
works are protected if they remain unregistered?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Part IV – Trade Policies by Sector  
 
Page 65 (Para 4.9)  
 
The Secretariat report outlines Qatar's announcement in September 2018 to expand production of 
LNG by 60% by 2025 to reinforce its position as a leading producer of LNG.  
 
Questions:  
32. What are Qatar's efforts to reduce emissions/ methane in the upstream natural gas 
industry, to respond to export m arket demand and government policies/regulations 
towards less carbon intensive LNG?  
33. What environmental, social and Governance metrics are upstream enterprises exploring to 
remain competitive and attractive to global investors?  
 
Answer to Question 32  
Qatar Petroleum moved to implement different initiatives based on gas's role as a bridge product to 
renewable energy sources. This included: CO2 reinjection projects at Ras Laffan, recovery of the 
Jetty Boil -off Gas during LNG loading operations, flare reduction , various energy efficiency 
enhancement projects and projects to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Other measures 
taken by QP included entering into a strategic joint venture with companies specialized in renewable 
energy production to deliver aroun d 1600 megawatts in Qatar. The authorities expect that this latter 
initiative will lead to a reduction in Qatar's carbon footprint.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Answer to Question 33  
To be provided.  
 
Page 68 (Para. 4.18.)  
 
The report notes that "Within the framework of the Qatar Nat ional Vision 2030 and the NDS -2, all 
three regulators continue their implementation of the Second Strategic Plan for the Financial Sector 
2017-22, aimed at promoting growth and achieving the financial sector's stability."  
 
Questions:  
34. Are there any foreign equity caps or restrictions in the banking, Islamic banking, insurance 
or securities sectors?  
35. If so, what are these caps or restrictions?  
 
Answer to Questions 34 and 35  
To be provided.  
 
Page 78 (Para 4.55)  
 
The Secretariat Report notes: "The main legislation concerning the civil aviation sector is the Civil 
Aviation Law No. 15 of 2002, which was most recently amended in 2018. The authorities indicate 
that the amendments were mainly targeted at, inter alia, enhancing the capacity of the Civil Aviati on 
Authority to ensure compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) 
requirements."  
 
Question:  
36. Could Qatar please confirm if the 2018 amendments to the Civil Aviation Law No. 15 of 
2002 included any additional liberalization of for eign participation and investment in the air 
transport services sector?  
 
Answer  
Please note that the Civil Aviation Law includes articles related primarily to technical matters and 
regulatory matters for the civil aviation sector. The law did not address t he issue of ownership of 
airlines or the ownership of any companies operating in activities related to civil aviation, and that 
there are other laws in the country such as the Corporate Law or the Investment Law that include 
articles related to foreign own ership percentages for companies operating in the State of Qatar. 
These laws are general laws and are applied through the Ministry of Economy and Trade.   In 
summary, the Civil Aviation Law and its recent amendment do not include foreign ownership shares 
in airlines or companies whose activities are related to civil aviation.  
 
Page 79 (Para 4.60)  
 
The Secretariat Report notes: "The authorities indicate that an equity cap of 49% applies for foreign 
investment in civil aviation services, and licensing of airlines is stipulated in the Civil Aviation Law 
No. 15 of 2002 (amended in 2018)."  
 
Questions:  
37. Could Qatar please confirm if the 49% equity cap for foreign investment in civil aviation 
services set out in the Civil Aviation Law No. 15 of 2002 was amended in 2018?  
38. If so, what was the previous foreign equity cap?  
39. Could Qatar also confirm if the current foreign equity cap applies equally to all civil aviation 
services, or if there are any specific exceptions?  
 
Answer to Question 37  
The scope of the Civil Avi ation Law does not include matters related to ownership shares in 
companies, but other state laws specify these requirements.  
 
Answer to Question 38  
Please refer to Question 37.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Answer to Question 39  
Law No . (1) of 2019 regulates foreign investment in Qatar, including in the aviation sector. Please 
refer to section 3.7 of the government report for a detailed description of the Law.  
 
Page 79 (Para 4.63, 4.64, 4.65)  
 
Paragraphs 4.63, 4.64, and 4.65 of the Secre tariat Report provide an overview of the requirements 
for airport operation and management, ground -handling services, and aircraft maintenance, repair, 
and engine overhaul services in Qatar.  
 
Question:  
40. Could Qatar please confirm the requirements, if any, for foreign participation in the selling 
and marketing of air transport services and computer reservation systems services?  
 
Answer  
The licensing of Global Distribution Systems (GDS)'s services is available in the State of Qatar for 
foreign companies with 100% foreign ownership as representative offices for international 
companies and have the right to practice the activity. A bill of a new law for travel and air cargo 
offices is currently submitted to the Council of Ministers, which includes a whole chapte r on 
International Booking and Distribution Systems Companies and organize their work within the State 
of Qatar, pending the completion of the legislative procedures for the issuance of the new law.  
As for sales, marketing and airline ticketing services, t hey are available to foreign airlines licensed 
to operate in the State of Qatar, and which operate in accordance with the law through a Qatari 
general agent (except for companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries), and these 
companies are authorize d under the air services agreements signed between the State of Qatar and 
all of these foreign countries.  
 
Page 80 (Para 4.69)  
 
The Secretariat Report confirms that the Minister of Transport and Communications (MOTC) 
supervises all maritime transportation -related activities, and its responsibilities include: "Planning 
and licensing marine transport. It, inter alia, enforces legislation and regulations governing maritime 
transport; develops policies related to maritime transport; conducts studies to plan the  construction 
and development of maritime transport networks in coordination with relevant authorities; 
determines licensing requirements; issues licences, including to foreign vessels, to operate in Qatari 
waters; and identifies maritime transport service  fees."  
 
Question:  
41. Could Qatar please elaborate on which law(s) govern foreign participation in national 
maritime cabotage activities, including any requirements or limitations?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
Page 81 (Para 4.74)  
 
The Secretariat Report notes: "The MOTC oversees developing the port sector, by maintaining 
infrastructure, construction, and broadening the logistics sector within ports, and preparing for the 
ports for operations."  
 
Question:  
42. Could Qatar please confirm if there are any specifi c laws or requirements limiting foreign 
participation and investment in the ownership, operation, and maintenance of ports and 
port infrastructure?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Pages 78 -81 (Section 4.2.3)  
 
Canada notes that Section 4.2.3 (Transportation) of th e Secretariat Report provides information on 
the civil aviation and maritime sectors, but does not include information with respect to the road or 
rail sectors.  
 
Question:  
43. Could Qatar please provide additional information on the breakdown of passenger and 
freight transport by road and rail compared to other modes of transportation?  
 
Answer  
Mode  2020  2025  
Passenger Km Travelled (Qatar)  101,513,925  112,247,406  
Car 60,908,355  53,542,013  
Passenger Car  26,901,190  32,663,995  
Company Bus  8,171,871  6,959,339  
Pedestrian  1,218,167  5,500,123  
PuT 2,334,820  11,898,225  
Taxi 1,979,522  1,683,711  
Bus 0.65%  2.50%  
Metro  1.65%  6.50%  
 
As for freight, there are no recent data that have been collected to come up with such breakdown. 
However, MOTC, Land Transport Planning Department, is currently conducting a study for Qatar 
Freight Master Plan (QFMP) that was initiated in January 2020 and is expected to be completed about 
4th quarter of 2022.  
One of the major outcomes of QFMP is the Freight Transport Model that will provide information 
about freight transport by road and rail.  
 
For other freight modes such as maritime or air, the Land Transport Affairs does not have such 
information, while could be found with Hamad Port and Qatar Airways.  
 
44. Are there any specific laws or requirements limiting foreign participation or investment in 
the road and rail sectors in Qatar?  
 
Answer  
Land Transport Affairs is not aware of any specific law or requirements limiting foreign participation 
or investment in the road and rail sectors in Qatar.  
 
To contrary, State of Qatar has passed laws to encourage PPP and investment in Land Transport and 
Services.  
 
As set out elsewhere in the report, Qatar amended its foreign investment law in 2019 to enhance 
foreign participation and bring transparency and predictability to its existing procedures.  
Qatar has also published Law No. (11) of 2020, which provides the l egislative framework for the 
operation and regulation of the railways in Qatar. Technical requirements aside, Law No. (11) of 
2020 provides no prohibition on the participation of any company in the day -to-day operations and 
maintenance of the rail network in Qatar.  
The Law is in fact designed to encourage both domestic and foreign direct investment into Qatar. To 
date, Qatar's railway network transportations systems has benefitted from, and continues to benefit 
from, direct and indirect foreign investment i n a variety of forms as it expands and develops in line 
with world class standards to deliver a world class railway network. This is evidenced by the fact 
that the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram networks were designed, constructed, and now operated by a 
number  of consortiums consisting of international and local companies.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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2. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT REPORT  
 
Part III. Trade Policy Regime  
 
Page 35 (Para 3.13)  
 
Canada notes that Qatar put in place temporary simplified procedures to facilitate imports a nd 
manage the challenges caused by the regional situation. These special procedures also applied to 
strategic goods such as raw materials and food.  
 
Questions:  
1. Could Qatar confirm whether military items are included in the definition of "strategic 
goods"?  
2. If so, could Qatar confirm whether special import procedures applied to these goods and 
what those special procedures entailed?  
3. Could Qatar confirm whether these temporary measures have now been removed?  
 
Answer to Questions 45 to 47  
To be provided.  
 
Page 41 (Para 3.50)  
 
With respect to Qatar Free Zones (FZ), the Government Report notes that one of the amendments 
in Decree Law No. (21) of 2017 is the following: "Stipulates the provisions under which the QFZA 
can register and license companies within the FZ  without restrictions on foreign ownership 
percentage or foreign currency transfer inside and outside Qatar (subject to compliance with QCB 
regulations);"  
 
Questions:  
4. Could Qatar please elaborate on the provisions for registering and licensing companies 
within the FZ, including the main differences compared to the process outside the FZ?  
5. Are the provisions for registering and licensing companies in the FZ, including with respect 
to foreign ownership, broadly applied to all sectors or are there a ny exceptions?  
 
Answer to Questions 48  
The main difference between registering a company in FZ and in the rest of country is in regards 
with the foreign ownership. Also, QFZA acts as a separate company formation agency to incorporate 
and license the compa nies as prescribed by the FZ Law and the Regulatory framework. Non -Qatari 
ownership above 49% in a company's capital is subject to a separate application and approval 
process outside FZ, in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In the FZs on the other han d, foreign 
ownership is an automatic part of the registration -i.e. registering and licensing in FZs proceed 
without regard to the percentages of shares of foreign and Qatari partners.  
Moreover, while there is no sector specific restrictions for foreign ow nership in the FZ Law, according 
to Law no. (1) of 2019 On Regulating Non -Qatari Capital Investment in the Economic Activity, it is 
prohibited for Non -Qatari investor to invest in the following fields: (i) banks and insurance 
companies, unless otherwise ex cluded by a decision from the Council of Ministers, (ii) commercial 
agencies and (iii) any other fields for which a decision from the Council of Ministers is issued.  
 
Answer 49  
According to FZ Law, Qatar Central Bank will develop and monitor the policies relating to the 
regulation, licensing, controlling, supervising of all the business of banks and financial institutions 
operating in the Free Zone. Other than those, the same registration and licensing provisions apply 
to sectors/companies.  
 
Page 42 (Para 3.52)  
 
The Government Report notes: "The FZ are open to any type of economic activity, subject to 
regulatory compliance, with special emphasis on high -value added manufacturing. So far, companies 
from the following sectors have been approved by th e QFZA to start operations: ICT, logistics and 
warehousing, energy and environmental technologies, industrial products and services, automotive 
and transport equipment, marine activities & services, aerospace and aviation activities, food and WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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beverages, ph armaceuticals and medical devices and professional and business services. Retailing 
activities will be included in the future."  
 
Questions:  
50 Could Qatar please provide specific examples of marine activities and services, as well as 
aerospace and aviation ac tivities, which have been approved by the QFZA to take place in 
the FZ?  
51 To what extent have the approved activities in these sectors involved foreign participation 
beyond what would be permitted outside the FZ in Qatar?  
 
Answer to Questions 50  
So far 18 co mpanies have been approved under broad categories of maintenance and repair for 
aviation and marine activities, trading of parts and equipment, boat design and building, other 
services and assembly.  
 
Answer to 51  
To be provided.  
 
Page 46 (Para 3.74)  
 
The Government Report indicates that Qatar's copyright law "protects areas such as architectural 
works constructed in Qatar, artistic work incorporated in a building constructed in Qatar, audio -
visual work whose producer is headquartered in Qatar, national  folklore , photography, Qatari authors 
published inside or outside Qatar and works delivered orally such as sermons, lectures, addresses 
or hymns." [emphasis added]  
 
Question:  
52 Could Qatar provide more information on what constitutes "national folklore," wh o owns 
the copyright assigned to such works, and whether any special rights or flexibilities are 
provided in this area?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
 
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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10  SINGAPORE  
PART I: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT  
 
3.1.1 Customs procedures, valuation, and requirements  
 
Page 34 (Para 3.3)  
 
1.    We welcome Qatar's establishment of a single window electronic customs clearance 
system, Al -Nadeeb, which would help to facilitate trade between Qatar and its trading 
partners. We note that Al -Nadeeb comp rises 24 units dealing with specific aspects of 
customs processes that include vehicle movement tracking, movement between ports, 
temporary entry and others. Could Qatar elaborate on (i) the types of documents that 
can be electronically transacted via Al -Nadeeb, and (ii) the status of implementation of 
this system across all ports in Qatar?  
 
Answer  
All types of customs clearance are carried electronically out through the single window system 
(Al Nadeeb) (import, export, re -export, temporary entry, temporar y exit, import with the 
intention of re -export, warehouses deposits, etc.) as are bills of lading, invoices and certificates 
of origin. Licencing, permits and registration with brokers are also done electronically through Al 
Nadeeb system, including:  
 
• Issuing and renewing a new license for a customs clearance office.  
• Issuing and renewing a new customs broker card.  
• Requesting for transferring a customs broker from one customs port to another.  
• Requesting for transferring a customs broker from a customs cl earance company to 
another company.  
 
The Al Nadeeb system is applied at all customs ports (air + sea + land) and is linked with all 
parties concerned with customs clearance (registration bodies), freight forwarders, customs 
clearance offices, and those dea ling with customs.  
 
3.1.4 Other charges affecting imports  
 
Page 43 (Para 3.29)  
 
2.   We note that GCC Member States have concluded a Unified Agreement for Value Added 
Tax (VAT), although Qatar is still studying the effects of the VAT in other countries in 
the region and has thus far postponed the introduction of the new tax framework. Could 
Qatar share (i) what are the factors surrounding the VAT framework which are still 
being assessed or studied, and (ii) when can we expect the VAT to be implemented?  
 
Answe r 
(i) 
 
Taxation will play an increasingly important role in achieving the goals of Qatar National Vision 
2030 (QNV2030) by creating an additional source of non -hydrocarbon dependent income to be 
invested in a sustainable and long -term economic growth. There are m any main areas that should 
be focused on during the implementation of the value -added tax, including awareness and training 
on the VAT, analysis of transactions and identification of transitional arrangements, in addition to 
the work of governance and comp liance systems, as well as information technology systems will 
need a new design, and the development of policies, procedures and internal controls in line with 
the new system.  
Companies will also need to consider the terms and conditions of contracts, in voices, and other 
external publications and documents, and possibly amend them. Also, there is a need to consider 
the financial impact of collecting the VAT, which may affect the pricing. It will entail the need for WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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companies to take into account the requi rements for VAT registration and collection. 
Implementing VAT is a project that that will require time and resources.  
 
(ii) 
The Authority for the General Tax Authority (GTA) was newly established in accordance with Emiri 
Decree No. 77 of 2018 under the sup ervision of the Ministry of Finance, and its mandate will 
include the implementation of all tax laws and the development of all relevant regulations, 
procedures and instructions. Also, it's responsible for reviewing and evaluating tax return forms 
and tax collection. The imposition of the value -added tax requires the timely approval of the 
system and the associated administrative procedures, and this is being studied by the concerned 
authorities.  
 
3.2.4 Export support and promotion  
 
Page 46 (Para 3.42)  
 
3.   We note that Tasdeer and Tasdeer Development were set up to boost Qatar's non -
hydrocarbon exports, and to assist Qatari exporters, especially SMEs, with export 
readiness and market access through resources and programmes. Could Qatar clarify 
if foreign c ompanies located within Qatar are eligible to tap on the assistance provided 
by Tasdeer and Tasdeer Development, especially in view of the new  FDI law which 
allows foreign ownership of up to 100% (up from 49%) in almost all of Qatar's economic 
sectors?  
 
Answer  
Qatar Development Bank's services are available for all private sector Qatari companies. Foreign 
investors can access this support as long as it is done through a Qatari company, i.e. a locally 
incorporated legal entity, irrespective of the negotiate d agreement between the company's 
shareholders regarding each other's ownership of company's capital.  
 
3.3.2 Standards and other technical requirements  
 
Pages 49 – 50 (Paras 3.57 – 3.58)  
 
4.   We note that Qatar is a Member of the GCC Standardisation Organisation (GSO) and 
that Qatari regulations on standards and technical regulations are based on GSO, 
international standards, as well as its own processes for national standards. We further 
note that according to the Qatari authorities, 96% of the total national approved 
standards are based on international standards. Could Qatar clarify:  
 
(i) Whether the remaining 4% of national approved standards, which are not based on 
international standards, are adopted from the GSO or originate from Qat ar's own 
processes; and  
 
(ii) What do the remaining 4% of national approve standards pertain to?  
 
Answers  
(i) The remaining 4% of national approved standards are not necessarily based on 
international standards. It is rather a case -by-case issue because some are based on ISO 
standards, others on IEC standards and so on. They originate from Qatar's own processes, 
a process that also follows standards development best practices around the world.  
 
(ii) For product coverage, please see the list contained in section 3.3.2 of the Secretariat's 
report. The standards are 29 in total.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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PART II: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE GOVERNMEN T REPORT  
 
2.8.1 Anti -Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism  
 
Page 29 (Para 2.63 – 2.64)  
 
5. We commend Qatar's efforts to update and expand its Anti -Money Laundering and 
Counter Terrorism Financing legislation since the last Trade Policy Review. Regarding 
the new requirements for financial institutions and Designated Non -Financial Businesses 
and Professionals (DNFPB) to implement and develop risk -based approaches, risk 
assessments and risk -based policies, could Qatar elaborate on the efforts undertaken 
to assist stakeholders in ensuring compliance with these requirements?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
3 Trade Policy Regime  
 
Pages 33 – 34 (Paras 3.1 – 3.8)  
 
6. Could Qatar elaborate on the trade facilitation initiatives and import diversification 
strategies implemented under the Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar Second 
National Development Strategy (QS NDS), which had helped to achieve its economic 
development and diversification agenda? What are the key sectors in which these 
initiatives took place?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
7. We note that Qatar's National Food Security Strategy envisions trade policy as one of its 
strategic pillars, and its strategy is to ensure food security and resilience against 
potential trade shocks and disruptions. Could Qatar elaborate on how it intends to 
achieve the goal of establishing adequate substitute import market s for each 
commodity, with the share of its top two import partners covering the 50%? Could 
Qatar also share whether this approach of ensuring supply chain resilience applies to 
other economic sectors within the country and which sectors are these?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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11  EUROPEAN UNION  
WT/TPR/S/408 – WTO Secretariat's Report  
2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
2.3 Trade Agreements and Arrangements  
2.3.1 WTO  
Paragraph 2.23, Page 25  
"Since its previous Review, Qatar has made notifications to the WTO in a number of areas (Table 
2.2). In particular, it made 62 regular notifications under Article 7 of the SPS Agreement, and 192 
notifications under Article 2.9 of the TBT Agreement. However , as at 30 June 2020, a number of 
notifications require updating or renewal, in the areas of agriculture (domestic support and export 
subsidies), import licensing procedures, quantitative restrictions, customs valuation, subsidies, 
state-trading enterprise s, and GATS."  
EU Question N° 1  
Customs valuation is very important in the value chain. Could Qatar report on its 
intentions in this regard to fill gaps in notification to the CVC?  
Answer  
Qatar is working with the relevant national institutions to determine which programmes are to be 
notified to the WTO under the various notification obligations. Furthermore, in the case that 
notification obligations are determined, the process also seeks to agree on a solution for 
automatically submitting notificat ions to the WTO Secretariat. The solution would be based on an 
arrangement with the WTO Secretariat for the automatic electronic transmission of data at regular 
intervals.  
2.4 Investment Regime  
2.4.1 Foreign investment  
Paragraph 2.48, Page 30  
"Pursuant to the Law, foreign investors are prohibited from investing in: a. banks and insurance 
companies, unless otherwise excluded by decisions from the Council of Ministers; b. commercial 
agencies; and c. any other fields for which a decision from the Council of  Ministers is issued."  
EU Question N° 2  
Pursuant to the Law No. 1 of 2019 Regulating the Investment of Non -Qatari Capital in 
Economic Activities, foreign investors are prohibited from investing in banks and 
insurance companies, unless otherwise excluded b y decisions from the Council of 
Ministers. The EU would firstly encourage the Government of Qatar to open up these 
important economic sectors to foreign investors. Secondly, could Qatar explain under 
what conditions foreign investors could benefit from suc h a decision?  
Answer  
Foreign investment in the banking and insurance sectors, other than through branches, would 
require approval from the Council of Ministers. The process may be initiated through the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry. A report on the des irability of the such investment would have to be drawn 
and submitted to the Council for their consideration. A detailed explanation on Qatar's foreign 
investment law can be found in section 3.7 of the government report.  
Paragraph 2.55, Page 31  
"In the pas t few years, Qatar implemented a number of reforms to improve its business regulations, 
which made it one of the top 20 global business environment improvers according to the World 
Bank's Doing Business 2020 Report…"  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 43 - 
 
EU Question N° 3  
Qatar embarked on an ambitious program to improve its business regulations. Qatar ranks 
77 on the 2020 Ease of Doing Business, an improvement of 6 places from previous year. 
How is Qatar planning to continue to improve its business environment?  
Answer  
Qatar's policy -making ins titutions —ministries and otherwise —hold, as part of their mandates, 
continued dialogues with the country's key stakeholders, including and foremost, private sector 
businesses. The ongoing conversation allows government entities to closely follow changes an d 
emerging business sector needs. At the same time, Qatar's economic development plans foresee the 
emergence of a competitive private sector landscape that requires the establishment of incentives 
that underpin economic competitiveness. Once the effects of  the pandemic are overcome, efforts 
will continue to provide greater access to finance to the private sector, deepen market 
competitiveness and expand access and guarantees to dispute resolution processes, to mention 
three key aspects, in order to ground t he country's economic sustainability drive.  
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1 Measures Directly Affecting Imports  
3.1.1 Customs procedures, valuation, and requirements  
Paragraph 3.2, Page 34  
"The GAC is currently implementing a strategic plan  for 2018 -2022, which is aligned with Qatar's 
Second National Development Strategy (NDS -2). The main themes of the strategic plan are to build 
and reinforce institutional capacity, particularly in the context of digital transformation and efficient 
logisti cs services. This includes simplification of procedures, the elimination of bureaucracy, a review 
of the customs services and related fees, and faster customs clearance."  
EU Question N° 4  
Could Qatar give more information as to the perspectives regarding the fees in relation to 
custom procedures? What is the current situation and what are the perspectives under 
consideration?  
Answer  
The customs service fees —which are currently applied based on the Minister of Finance Resolution 
No. (9) of 2017 —are being reviewed.  
Paragraph 3.4, Page 34  
"Qatar ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) on 12 June 2017. In 2014, Qatar notified 
the Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation that it designated all the provisions in Section I of 
the Agreement as Category A commitments, except for Article 7.7 (Trade Facilitation Measures for 
Authorized Operators). According to the authorities, the Authorized Economic Operator programme 
has been in place since 26 January 2019, established in accordance with the p rovisions of the World 
Customs Organization SAFE Framework of Standards, and compliant with the provisions relating to 
authorized operators stipulated in Article 7.7 of the TFA. Qatar has accordingly implemented all of 
its obligations under the TFA."  
EU Q uestion N° 5  
Could Qatar report on the NTFC establishment and its functioning and operations? Could 
Qatar give information regarding the criteria for Authorised operators programmes and 
the benefits that these operators gain? Is there legislation that coul d be shared with the 
WTO membership in this regard? Regarding the four -year review of the TFA that is 
ongoing, what are Qatar's views on the scope and modalities for this review?  
Answer  
To be provided.  
3.3.2 Standards and other technical requirements  
"With respect to food products, Qatar follows the technical regulation (No. QS 9) on general labelling 
requirements for all types of food. Food labels must include, inter alia, product and brand names, 
the name and address of the manufacturer, the country of origin, and a list of the ingredients. As 
noted earlier, this also applies to locally produced food. Qatari Standards (GSO 150/2007) are WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 44 - 
 
adopted for shelf -life requirement, specifying products required f or perishable foods (Part 1) and 
products with recommended expiry periods for non -perishable food products (Part 2). The 
manufacturer must print the production and expiry dates on the original label or container. Adding 
stickers for production and expiry d ates is not permissible."  
EU Question N° 6  
Will Qatar notify these new standards under the TBT WTO Agreement? Could Qatar explain 
the rationale for such measures? Could Qatar align these import requirements with 
international standards to avoid unnecessar y and discriminatory barriers to trade?  
Answer  
Qatar is working with the relevant national institutions to agree on a solution for automatically 
submitting notifications to the WTO Secretariat. The solution would be based on an arrangement 
with the WTO Sec retariat for the automatic electronic transmission of data at regular intervals.  
 
Moreover, the rationale of the measures follows public policy objectives of consumer health and 
wellbeing. The following list contains the main ones:  
• GSO 9:2013/ GSO 9:2013/Amd 1:2016: Labeling of Prepackaged Food Stuffs 
(G/TBT/N/QAT/266 on 13 January 2012)  
• GSO 150 -1:2013/ GSO 150 -1:2013/Amd 1:2015: Expiration Dates For Food Products -Part 
1: Mandatory Expiration Dates, and are currently approved as Qatari Technical R egulations 
(G/TBT/N/QAT/312, 17 April 2013)  
• GSO 150 -2:2013/ GSO 150 -2:2013/Amd 1:2016: Expiration Dates For Food Products - Part 
2: Voluntary Expiration Dates is approved as a Qatari Standard, not a Technical Regulation.  
 
As a general rule, new technical r egulations or modifications thereof are notified to the WTO. The 
new version of GSO 9 has been notified on 9 January 2020 (QAT/569).  
 
Qatar does maintain as an objective of its standards and technical regulations to maintain 
international standards, not on ly to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade, but also to implement best 
practices from around the world.  
 
3.3.3 Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements  
Paragraph 3.74, Page 54  
"The MOPH periodically issues a list of prohibited food products importing into Qatar with 
justification. There are three types of banned items relating to: (i) requirements of technical 
regulations or standards such as unsafe or non -Halal food (on a permanent basis); (ii) the reports 
of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on the epidemiological situation of a specific 
disease in a country (on a temporary basis); and (iii) special cases such as the lack of information 
about a country's epidemiological situation in which the risk may transmitted to imported food (on 
a tempora ry basis). Such precautionary measures (on a temporary basis) are in accord with the SPS 
Agreement."  
EU Question N° 7  
Could Qatar explain its procedure on how Qatar can recognise regionalisation measures 
put in place by trading partners in case of specifi c disease outbreaks (such as avian 
influenza) to ensure that exports of the whole country are not unnecessarily blocked. In 
case of such recognition trade restrictions are limited to the affected areas which are put 
under stringent control measures by the affected country. The EU has a stringent 
regionalisation policy in place for specific animal disease outbreaks which guarantee the 
continuation of safe trade, not only on its own territory but also for products exported to 
third countries.  
Answer  
To be provided.  
Paragraph 3.80, Page 55  
"The MOCI functions as Qatar's national notification authority. Qatar made 93 notifications under 
the WTO SPS Agreement from 1 January 2014 to 31 November 2020. The notifications cover, inter 
alia, food products including fruits and vegetables, meat, cereal s and pulses, and dairy products. Of WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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these, 74 were joint notifications made with the other GCC member States plus Yemen. The MOPH 
is the WTO SPS Enquiry Point."  
EU Question N° 8  
In Qatar, new import conditions for Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk and wh ite cheeses 
were put in place since 1 June 2019 without any WTO notification issued. Could Qatar 
explain which actions it will undertake to ensure the issuing of WTO notifications on draft 
import conditions affecting agri -food are in line with its transpar ency obligations under 
the WTO SPS Agreement?  
Answer  
Qatar's SPS measures are based on requirements and aligned with the WTO SPS Agreement. The 
reasoning behind precautionary measures undertaken by the Ministry of Public Health on its website 
with clear j ustifications and timelines of enforcement.  
EU Question N° 9  
Could Qatar indicate how it could facilitate its import of milk and cheese product from 
abroad?  
Answer  
Milk and cheese have priority in customs clearance and release at all Qatari customs ports ( air + 
sea + land), i.e. a special path in customs clearance. Furthermore, there is a pre -clearance system 
that can be accessed by importers, which is the pre -release of shipments before they reach the 
customs port and when they are transferred to the means  of transportation.  
 
3.3.6 Government procurement  
Paragraph 3.102, Page 59  
"Article 2 of the Law introduced the following tendering methods: two -stage tender, limited tender 
practice, competition, and direct contract. The two -stage approach involves a procuring entity 
seeking tenders from contractors/suppliers based on an initial scope of work97; according to the 
authorities, this allows closer collaboration with the contractor or supplier. Other changes include 
expanding the list of reasons for conducting direct agreement in public procurement, and removing 
the ceiling in amending  procurement contracts."  
EU Question N° 10  
What are the new reasons for direct award introduced by the new law? Could Qatar please 
indicate if there are there any statistics available on the use of direct award in 
procurement procedures?  
Answer  
To be prov ided. 
Paragraph 3.103, Page 60  
"The new Law does not cover procurement conducted by SOEs. The authorities state that in 2019 
public procurement expenditure accounted for 6.1% of GDP, and about 5.5% of government 
procurement was provided by foreign suppliers."  
EU Question N° 11  
Could Qatar please explain what is the legal framework applicable to SOEs and are SOEs 
procurement procedures open to foreign bidders?  
Answer  
To be provided.  
Paragraph 3.104, Page 60  
"Bid and performance bonds are required in the form of unconditional gua rantees with a local bank. 
The standard bid bond is 5%, and the performance bond is 10% of the contract value. These rates 
can be higher for certain projects. Under the new Law, SMEs may seek an exemption (either full or 
partial) from submitting performanc e bonds if they provide financial assurances from the QDB."  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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EU Question N° 12  
Could Qatar please explain if this provision is applicable to all SMEs including foreign 
SMEs?  
Answer  
To be provided.  
Paragraph 3.106, Page 60  
"Under the new Law, preferences may be given to domestically produced products upon the 
recommendation of the M inister of Finance and the approval by the Council of Ministers. Domestically 
produced products are granted a 10% price preference over their foreign counterparts."  
Answer  
To be provided.  
EU Question N° 13  
Could Qatar explain what is the scope of this pri ce preference schemes? Which are the 
sectors applying this preference scheme? How many public procurement contracts are 
concerned by this preference scheme?  
Answer  
To be provided.  
3.3.7 Intellectual property rights (IPRs)  
3.3.7.1 Overview  
Paragraph 3.107, Page 60  
"During the review period, Qatar adopted various reforms in its intellectual property (IP) system, 
aimed at promoting the development of a knowledge economy. Domesticall y, since the restructuring 
of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, which was later reorganized into the MOCI, the 
Intellectual Property Rights Protection Department (IPRPD) has been responsible for IP matters. Its 
main functions include: (i) educating and  supporting IPR holders; (ii) settling IP disputes; (iii) 
combatting IP infringement; and (iv) protecting IPRs, including patents, integrated circuit designs, 
trademarks, trade names, industrial designs, geographical indications (GIs), and copyright and 
neighbouring rights."  
EU Question N° 14  
Could Qatar explain whether it intents to accede to:  
i) the Trademark law Treaty;  
ii) the Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement concerning the international 
registration of marks;  
iii) the Singapore Treaty on t he law of trademarks;  
iv) the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their 
International Registration and the Geneva Act?  
Answer  
As per the list in the question:  
1. Regarding the "Trademark law Treaty": No because Qatar intends  to accede to the Singapore 
Treaty on the law of trademarks.  
2. Regarding Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement concerning the international registration 
of marks: Yes.  
3. Regarding the Singapore Treaty on the law of trademarks: Yes.  
4. Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their Inter national 
Registration and the Geneva Act: Yes.  
 
However, while the answers above represent Qatar's intentions, accession to such treaties requires 
further approvals. Therefore, such answers per se shall not bind Qatar in international law.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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3.3.7.2 Economi c policy context  
Paragraph 3.112, Page 61  
"In 2019, Qatar ranked 65th out of 129 economies in the Global Innovation Index, compared with 
50th out of 141 economies in 2015. Its strengths lie in, inter alia, university and industry research 
collaboration, ICT services imports, computer software spend ing, and high - and medium high -tech 
manufacturing. Its weaknesses are reflected in the low number of patents and trademark 
applications filed by Qatari residents. For example, according to WIPO online information and data 
from the authorities, over the rev iew period, of around 600 patent applications (Table 3.12), 10% 
were made by residents, and the rest by non -residents."  
EU Question N° 15  
Could Qatar explain if parallel importation is allowed in practice?  
Answer  
To be provided.  
3.3.7.3 Industrial propert y rights  
Paragraph 3.114, Page 62  
"According to Qatar's Patent Law, patents are for any inventions that are new, involve an inventive 
step, and are capable of industrial application. They must not contradict the provisions of Shariah 
law, or violate publ ic order, ethics, or national security. Patentability does not include scientific 
theories, computer programmes, plant and animal research, or diagnostic or surgical methods. 
Patents are protected for 20 years from the filing date."  
EU Question N° 16  
Could Qatar provide some clarifications about the enforcement of patent protection? 
Notably, does Qatar's legislation provide for an administrative marketing approval 
process and a link with patent duration?  
Answer  
The enforcement of patent protection in Qatar is done through Law No (30) of 2006, which penalizes 
infringements on the rights of protected inventions, which include the rights to utilize the invention 
through manufacturing, sale, and resale. Administrative marketing approval is regulated by the  
Ministry of Public Health.  
EU Question N° 17  
Does Qatar grant marketing approvals to Qatari companies for the production of generic 
versions of medicinal products which are still under patent protection in Qatar or in the 
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) me mber countries?  
Answer  
To be submitted.  
EU Question N° 18  
Could Qatar provide details about its Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) legal regime, if 
any, and the conditions under which the Qatari public authorities approves generic 
versions of innovative prod ucts?  
Answer  
To be submitted.  
 
3.3.7.4 Copyright and related rights  
Paragraph 3.119, Page 63  
"Law No. 7 of 2002 on the Protection of Copyright and Related Rights (the Copyright Law) gives 
protection for the lifetime of the author plus 50 years. Protection is conferred on authors of original 
literary and artistic works, regardless of the value, qual ity, purpose, or mode of expression of these 
works."  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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EU Question N° 19  
Have Collective Management Organisations been established in Qatar?  
Answer  
No. 
Paragraph 3.120, Page 63  
"The Minister of Economy and Commerce issued a Decision with a view to encouraging copyright 
owners to register their rights. Pursuant to this Decision, applicants may obtain a copyright certificate 
once they pay a copyright filing fee. According to the aut horities, this may empower copyright owners 
to legally enforce their rights against third -party infringement attempts, and commercialize their 
copyright in the Qatari market."  
EU Question N° 20  
Could Qatar explain whether only works with a certificate can  be efficiently and really 
protected? If so, is this "encouragement" compatible with Article 5(2) of the Berne 
Convention prohibiting formalities?  
Answer  
Law No. (7) of 2002 gives such certificates a higher evidential power which cannot be disproven in 
courts. Copyright is still protected without registration.  
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.2.2.2 Postal services  
Paragraph 4.53, Page 78  
"Currently, four international operators provide courier services, although no specific rules apply to 
these services. To provide courier services, they must register with the MOCI, and obtain approval 
from the Ministry of Transport and Communications. No l ocal courier is licensed, because the delivery 
of postal services is reserved for Qatar Post. The authorities indicate that they are preparing a new 
postal law, according to which the CRA is to be the sectoral regulator."  
EU Question N° 21  
Could Qatar cla rify the conditions, if any, for approval from the Ministry of Transport and 
Communications?  
Answer  
The postal law if following the legislative process. The CRA is not in a position to predict when this 
process will be completed.  
 
Paragraph 4.54, Page 78  
"Prices for postal services are set by Qatar Post, and prices for courier services are currently not 
regulated. Once the new Postal Law enters into force, prices for postal and courier services are to 
be regulated by the CRA. It is  not clear to the Secretariat when the new Postal Law is to enter into 
force."  
EU Question N° 22  
Could Qatar provide more information on the timing for the entry into force of the new 
Postal Law?  
Answer  
To be provided.  
Table A3.2, Page 92  
The list of rest ricted products, includes Virgin Olive Oil, Lampante and blends (15091000, 15099000, 
15100000). These are restricted by the Ministry of Public Health, Ports Health and Food Control 
Section.  
EU Question N° 23  
Could Qatar explain why these products are restricted?  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 49 - 
 
Answer  
Qatar's Ministry of Public Health does not have any specific legal restriction in such products. 
Precautionary measures published on the MOPH website with clear justifications. Virgin Olive Oil , 
Lampante and blends are not included in any of the Ministry's official circulars.  
WT/TPR/G/408 – Report by Qatar  
2 MAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS  
2.3 Agriculture and Food Security  
Paragraph 2.16, Page 18  
"Several food -security projects were launched for private sector investors that included the supply 
of rented farmland for an annual feed QAR 2,000 per hectare. Some of the initiatives to be made 
available for investors are: 10 projects for the production of vegetables in greenhouses with an 
annual production capacity 21,000 tonnes for the ten projects, 4 projects for the production of green 
fodder with wastewater treatment with an annual production capacity around 17,000 tonnes for the 
four projects, 2 projects for the production of organic f ertilizers with an annual production capacity 
around 12,000 tonnes per year for the two projects, 2 projects for the production of concentrated 
fodder with an annual production capacity around 50,000 tonnes per year for the two projects, 2 
projects for the  production of camel milk with an annual production capacity around 3,000 tonnes 
per year for the two projects, 2 projects for fish farming with floating cages with a production 
capacity around 2,000 tonnes per year for the two projects and a shrimp farmin g project with an 
annual production capacity around 1,000 tonnes per year."  
EU Question N° 24  
Could Qatar explain what fish species are considered for the two projects? Would Qatar 
have any other initiatives concerning aquaculture or "wild" fisheries? How far are 
environmental and social sustainable criteria embedded in Qatar's aquaculture strategy?  
Answer  
The two fish species considered for the two projects are the Asian seabass (lates  calcarifer) and 
shrimp farming (Penaeus vannamei). There are no other initiatives regarding new fish farming 
projects. Social and environmental aspects have been taken into consideration in the State of Qatar's 
strategy for fish farming, and a special leg islation has been issued to regulate fish farm activities, 
i.e. Ministerial Resolution No. (195) of 2014 regarding conditions and controls for the cultivation of 
fish organisms.  
3 TRADE POLICY REGIME  
3.2 Trade Policy Objectives  
Paragraph 3.5, Page 34  
"Qatar's National Food Security Strategy also envisions trade policy as one of its strategic pillars.38 
In effect, the strategy seeks to ensure that Qatar's "food import strategy is resilient against potential 
trade shocks and disruptions and that Qatar can  quickly react to the loss of trade partners or a drop 
in self -sufficiency". The strategy has the goal of establishing three to five substitute import market 
for each commodity by 2023, with the share of top 2 import partners covering around 50% (in the 
case of achieving five import partners) to 70% (in the case of three partners)."  
EU Question N° 25  
Besides diversification of supply chains and import substitution, is Qatar considering other 
measures to enforce resilience? If it is the case, what kind of m easures? What are the 
reasons for having fixed percentages for the shares of the top 2 import partners?  
Answer  
In the trade policy pillar, Qatar —besides a focus on trade partner diversification —also included a 
policy for contingency planning. Contingency p lanning is a requirement for the private sector to 
develop contingency plans, identifying additional trade partner and trade routes. The contingency 
plans need to be actionable in times of crises. In many cases, the government of Qatar supported 
the privat e sector in this effort by organizing and facilitating trade missions and investment efforts 
in alternative transport infrastructure and capacity.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 50 - 
 
The percentages are fixed but set as an ambitious goal but contingent to practical realities such as 
product quality, transportation time and costs, perishable shelf life and minimum transportation 
volumes. If strategic reserves for non -perishable items are in place, the trade diversification 
obligation is flexible and mainly driven a financial rationale.  
Paragraph 3.6, Page 34  
"Qatar enacted temporary trade -related measures to mitigate the effects of the Covid -19 pandemic 
as well. Specifically, measures regarding trade in goods included: (i) custom duty exemption on food 
and medical supplies for a period  of six months, provided that the savings were passed onto local 
consumers, (ii) ongoing inspection campaigns to control prices and prevent monopolistic practices 
and (iii) measures to restrict hoarding of surgical masks and other medical supplies, includi ng 
rationing and price controls. Measures affecting trade in services included: (i) closure of educational 
institutions and implementation of online classes, (ii) change in working hours, including retail shops 
and (iii) closure of non -essential businesses . The authorities also implemented an economic stimulus 
package through the Central Bank, Qatar Development Bank and the Ministry of Finance (see Section 
2.5 for further details)."  
EU Question N° 26  
Could Qatar explain how this measure was implemented in practice? How did the 
authorities verify that the conditions for duty exemptions were met?  
Answer  
To be provided.  
3.4 Customs Procedures  
Paragraph 3.11, Page 34  
"Qatar's general customs law, i.e. Law No. (40) of 2002, was not amended during the period under 
review and, thus, continued to follow GCC Customs Law. However, a revised draft law is being 
prepared to meet Qatar's commitments to the provisions of the WTO T rade Facilitation Agreement. 
In addition to this, the GAC, in coordination with other agencies, enacted a number of regulations 
aimed at facilitating its procedures. The main decrees were…"  
EU Question N° 27  
New Administrative Circular No. (76) of 2015 . The regulation describes the procedures to 
apply the international export -import document, i.e. ATA Carnet. Could Qatar please 
explain in more detail the allowed uses of the ATA Carnet in Qatar?  
Answer  
To be provided.  
EU Question N° 28  
The Minister of Fi nance's Decision No. (9) of 2017 . This Decision establishes the charges 
on customs services provided by the GAC (General Authority of Customs). Could Qatar 
please provide an exhaustive list with the customs services and the related fees and/or 
charges?  
Answer  
There are no other customs service fees other than those stipulated in Finance's Decision No. (9) of 
2017.  
 
3.4.2 Trade Facilitation Measures  
Paragraph 3.16, Page 35  
"The GAC is also working to develop other customs programmes and procedures on an ongoing 
basis to facilitate processes and encourage investment. These include: (i) an import to re -export 
system; (ii) acceptance of electronic certificates of origin and elec tronic certification of invoices 
associated with imports; (iii) accepting commercial invoices issued from a non -export or production 
country; (iv) the use of private customs warehouses; (v) updating the customs refund process; (vi) 
the use of the ATA Carne t; (vii) the implementation of a new risk management system; (viii) 
industrial exemptions; (ix) the implementation of pre -clearance of shipments and (x) the use of 
authorised economic operators."  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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EU Question N° 29  
Could Qatar please elaborate what is impl ied by "industrial exemptions" and the 
conditions for their application?  
Answer  
Industrial exemptions are meant to indicate exemptions from import duties on products used as 
inputs in manufacturing processes. The conditions for the exemptions emanate from the stipulations 
contained in Law No. (20) of 2006 promulgating the Industrial Organization Law of the Gulf 
Cooperation Council States and its Implementing Regulations No. (4) of 2009 as well as the Emiri 
Decree No. (18) of 2013 exempting indu strial establishments from the fees on production inputs.  
 
4 TRADE AGREEMENTS  
4.2 The Gulf Cooperation Council  
Paragraph 4.4, Page 49  
"Qatar maintained an active participation in the activities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 
during the period under review. The MOCI worked to support three key initiatives at GCC level…"  
EU Question N°30  
Could Qatar please indicate where it is in the process of finalizing the requirements of the 
GCC Customs Union? What are the main obstacles?  
Answer  
The work on the GCC Customs Union continues at committee level through regular meetings by GCC 
Member States to discuss the 2003 Customs Union Law and the 2008 Common Market Law. The 
Law on the GCC Customs Union, however, has not been announced yet.  
III- Other Questions  
Domestic workers law  
Welcome Qatar's adoption of Law No. 15 on Service Workers in the Home in 2017 ("Domestic 
Workers Law"), which provi des legal guarantees for domestic workers' labour rights for the first 
time. Noticing that the Domestic Workers Law outlines new protections such as a maximum 10 -hour 
workday, at least 24 consecutive hours of rest each week, three weeks of annual leave, as  well as 
an end -of-service payment of at least three weeks per year, it is still weaker than the Labour Law 
(Law No.  14 of 2004), which protects all other workers, and has other gaps, therefore it does not 
fully conform to the International Labour Organiza tion (ILO) Domestic Workers Convention, the 
global treaty on domestic workers' rights.  
EU Question N°  31 
Could Qatar please update whether it is planning to reform the Domestic Labour Law to 
provide adequate protection?  
Answer  
ILO Fundamental Conventions  
We must attach great importance to the promotion, respect and fulfilment of human rights, as 
safeguarded by the Fundamental ILO Conventions and other human rights instruments. The EU is 
engaged in promoting their universal ratification and impl ementation, including the ILO fundamental 
conventions. Therefore compliance with the ILO fundamental Conventions is essential for social and 
economic stability in any country and that an environment conducive to dialogue and trust between 
employers, worker s and governments contributes to creating a basis for solid and sustainable growth 
and inclusive societies. We encourage Qatar to ratify the remaining 3 ILO fundamental conventions.  
C087 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Conve ntion, 1948  
C098 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949  
C100 - Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951]  
EU Question N°  32 
Could Qatar please give an update on where you stand on the ratification of the 3 
remaining ILO fundamental conventions?  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 52 - 
 
Answer  
Kafala system . 
We are pleased to see that Qatar has announced extensive reforms of its labour market, with a view 
of ending the Kafala system and making significant step forward in upholding the rights of migrant 
workers. Th e October 2019 endorsement of the Council of Ministers of the State of Qatar of new 
legislation allowing workers to change employers freely as well as removing exit permits 
requirements for all workers. These reforms and the commitment of the State of Qata r to 
transforming its labour market are significant and necessary steps.  
EU Question N°  33 
Could Qatar please give an update on the implementation process of these reforms?  
Answer  
To be provided.  
Question 8  
In Qatar, new import conditions for Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk and white cheeses were put 
in place since 1 June 2019 without any WTO notification issued. Could Qatar explain which actions 
it will undertake to ensure the issuing of WTO notifications on draft import conditions affecting agri -
food are in line with its transparency obligations under the WTO SPS Agreement?  
Answer  
Qatar's SPS measures are based on requirements and aligned with the WTO SPS Agreement. The 
reasoning behind precautionary measures undertaken by the Ministry of Public H ealth on its website 
with clear justifications and timelines of enforcement.  
EU follow up to question 8:  
The EU understands that Qatar continues to work to address this issue and considers to 
remove this SPS related measure.  
Could Qatar explain on when it will remove this measure and if Qatar considers putting 
other measures in place at the same moment.  
Answer  
Qatar is committed  to fulfil ling all of its international obligations, including WTO agreements . To this 
end, Qatar applie s the requirements of mentioned circular on National products and imported 
products without any bias . 
 
At a meeting on 27 August 2019 in Doha with the  Head of the Commercial Department of the 
European Union Delegation to GCC Council Countries that included  a senior consultant at the 
Croatian Embassy, the EU representative expressed the EU's understanding of the said circular and 
its justifications.  
 
Question 18  
Could Qatar provide details about its Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) legal regime, if any, and the 
conditions under which the Qatari public authorities approve generic versions of innovative products?  
Answer  
As per GCC Central Drug Registration Committee, generic versions could only be approved after the 
expiration of the innovative product's pa tent protection rights.  
EU follow up to question 18:   
How does Qatar implement article 39 paragraph 3 of TRIPS agreement?  
And could Qatar provide details about its Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) legal regime, 
if any, and the conditions under which the Qatari public authorities approve generic 
versions of innovative products?  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 53 - 
 
Answer  
Data and information associated to pharmaceutical or chemical products is protected through the 
Qatar's general IPR laws. The enforcement of these laws, which are describ ed by both the Secretariat 
and the government reports, is undertaken by the IPR Protection Department at the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry. The safeguard of article 39, paragraph 3, of the TRIPS Agreement, is, 
however, reactive in the sense that violat ions to the provisions of the article are investigated by the 
IPR PD once a complaint has been brought to its attention. In such instances, the Department 
undertakes an investigation and issues a finding, which has force of law. If the parties involve do 
not agree with the findings, these may be appealed through Qatar's courts of law. Further regulatory 
developments to the regulatory data protection regime are under study . 
Question 26  
Could Qatar explain how this measure was implemented in practice? How did  the authorities verify 
that the conditions for duty exemptions were met?  
Answer  
Coordination between the Ministry and of Commerce and Industry and the General Authority of 
Customs was ensured between both agencies. Foodstuffs included in the exemption as per the Amiri 
decree was verified by focusing on the symbol for these goods.  
EU follow up to question 26:   
What exactly does Qatar mean with "…verified by focusing on the symbol for these 
goods"?  
Answer  
It means that the process was based on each product's identified HS code.  
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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12  UKRAINE  
PART I: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/408)  
2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
2.2 Trade Policy Formulation and Objectives  
 
Page 23 (Para 2.17)  
Under the Report, Qatar's trade policy is formulated within the broader framework of the Qatar 
National Vision 2030, which is a roadmap towards becoming an advanced society capable of 
sustainable development by 2030. Its Second National Development Strategy (NDS -2) 2018 -202215 
aims at sustaining e conomic prosperity through economic diversification, infrastructure and private -
sector development, and natural resources management. The NDS -2 set targets to diversify 
production through increasing public investment in infrastructure, promoting private in vestment, 
establishing industrial and service zones, and supporting the development of small and medium 
sized enterprises (SMEs).  
 
Question:  
1. Are there any measures within NDS -2 envisaged for the development and/or diversification within 
the agriculture sectors? If so, could Qatar provide a general overview of such measures?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
2.3 Trade Agreements and Arrangements  
2.3.1 WTO  
 
Page 25 (Para 2.23)  
The Report notes that a number of notifications requires updating or renewal, in particular in the 
areas of agriculture (domestic support and export subsidies), import licensing procedures, 
quantitative restrictions, customs valuation, subsidies, state -trading enterprises, and GATS.  
 
Question:  
2. Could Qatar, please, identify the state  of play regarding its notification process and inform when 
outstanding notifications will be submitted to the WTO?  
 
Answer  
Qatar is working with the relevant national institutions to determine which programmes are to be 
notified to the WTO under the various notification obligations. Furthermore, in the case that 
notification obligations are determined, the process also seeks to agree on a solution for 
automatically submitting notifications to the WTO Secretariat. The solution would be based on an 
arrangement with the WTO Secretariat for the automatic electronic transmission of data at regular 
intervals.  
 
2.4 Investment Regime2.4.4 E -commerce  
 
Page 33 (Para 2.65)  
According to the Report, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC) launched Qatar's 
E-Commerce Information Portal in 2017 ( https://ecommerce.gov.qa/  ), aimed at facilitating 
information flow to businesses and consumers. E -commerce guidelines were published in 2018, 
focusing on technical an d security aspects. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the MOTC launched the E -
Commerce Trustmark (Theqa) programme, seeking to boost confidence in the local e -commerce 
ecosystem by certifying the legitimacy of websites.  
 
Question:  
3. Сould Qatar, please, elab orate more on the results of the implementation of the Theqa trust 
programme aimed at the creation of more trustworthy local e -commerce ecosystem since its launch 
in 2019?  
 
Answer  
Program Background: The Theqa Trustmark Program has an open online applicati on for businesses 
to fulfill a set -list of criteria, and then obtain the Trustmark to showcase on their eCommerce 
websites for consumers to see. The criteria is a set of worldwide best practices for websites that go WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 55 - 
 
to ensure consumer protection; by focusi ng on transparencies from data privacies, to webpage use 
terms, to terms and conditions of purchase, to eliminating fraud in products showcased etc.  
Approach: The Trustmark is not a policy program but more of a government initiative to encourage 
local eco mmerce's to adopt aforementioned best practices. Some companies apply within their own 
accord, most of the time the program will go out to target merchants and ecommerce's and 
encourage them to apply.  
Evaluation: Evaluation of Theqa program effectiveness h as solely been on merchants who choose to 
apply and follow through the application process to obtain the Trustmark. We evaluate the merchants 
targeted/invited to apply on the basis of their before and after fulfillment of the criteria within their 
applicat ion journey.  
 Consumer protection effectiveness has not been evaluated per increased rates of using 
ecommerce's, as there are numerous factors aside from the Trustmark effecting consumer behavior  
online, nor have locally certified eCommerce's been compared to locally uncertified eCommerce's in 
experienced website purchases. There is an assumption that consumers will automatically feel more 
confident using a website which is certified than a websit e that is not, and carry -out an online 
payment etc… which has not been measured as many factors also create discrepancies in measuring 
that. The effectiveness evaluated lies within a soft implementation in getting the ecosystem to abide 
by the criteria.  
Results: 99% of the applicants usually have at least one of the necessary criteria missing or lacking 
and make the conscious effort to validate or fulfil it once introduced to the certification program. 
Theqa has been effective on eCommerce websites in that  it helps shed light on aspects necessary 
for consumer protection (such as payment gateways being PCI compliant, having privacy policies in 
place etc.). The Theqa program has resulted in registered businesses being fully compliant and in 
return ensuring a trustworthy online retail ecosystem.  
Today, the program has successfully certified more than 205 merchants.  
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1 Measures Directly Affecting Imports  
3.1.5 Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  
 
Pages 43 - 44 (Para 3.32)  
The Report states, that Qatar has no import licensing procedures. However, the importation of 
certain goods is either prohibited or restricted. Some 1,240 tariff line items are currently identified 
as restricted (Table A3.2).  
 
Questions:  
4. Could Qatar, please, describe the import procedures applied to restricted goods listed in 
Table  A3.2?  
5. Can Qatar provide address for the website link where information concerning import procedure 
for wheat, barley, rye sugars, sugar confectio nery and fish products (prepared or preserved) is 
available?  
 
Answer to questions 4  
Qatar's import system depends on the issuance of a commercial register containing the commercial 
activity required to be practiced, a commercial license and an establishme nt registration in order to 
activate the company on the Al Nadeeb system. Thus, the procedures applied to the registered 
goods, and this is done through coordination with the authorities concerned with customs clearance 
(registration authorities) to determ ine which are the restricted goods. Those found to merit 
restriction are then registered in the Al Nadeeb customs clearance system so that when the customs 
declaration is prepared, it is transferred electronically through the system to the registered party  for 
the commodity.  
Answer to question 5  
The link is https://www.customs.gov.qa/English/Pages/default.aspx . 
 
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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3.1.6 Anti -dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures  
 
Page 44 (Para 3.36)  
The Report states, that "The 2010 amendments created common institutions to deal with trade 
remedy issues including a Ministerial Committee, a Permanent Committee, and the Office of the 
Technical Secretariat to combat harmful practices in inter national trade (GCC -TSAIP). The 
Permanent Committee decides whether an investigation should be initiated based on a preliminary 
report from the GCC -TSAIP. Should a formal investigation be warranted, the GCC -TSAIP will conduct 
it and present its findings, i ncluding recommendations on measures that could be taken, to the 
Permanent Committee, which takes the final decision".  
 
Questions:  
6. Would Qatar, please, explain the procedure of decision making in the Permanent Committee? How 
much influence has each memb er of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)?  
7. Could Qatar, please, specify the on -line source with the information on current investigations, 
measures in force, decisions that were taken?  
 
Answer to questions 6  
To be provided.  
Answer to question 7  
At the moment, there are four investigations that can be reported:  
 
1- Anti- dumping investigation against the GCC importing of super absorbent polymer - SAP 
originating in Japan & China.  
Decision: Terminations of the anti - dumping investigation  
 
2- Anti- dumping duties against imports of ceramic flags and paving, hearth, floor, or wall tiles 
originating in or exported from china and India  
Decision : Qatar is not Imposing anti - dumping dut ies.  
 
3- Ongoing investigations that are near completion and pertain to anti -dumping with respect to 
GCC imports of plates sheet, and strip of aluminium alloys originating in or exported from the 
people's republic of china.  
Decisions: Outcomes of this inv estigation are currently pending.  
 
4- Ongoing investigations that are near completion and pertain to Initiation of safeguard 
investigation against the increase of GCC imports of steel products.  
Decisions: Outcomes of this investigation are currently pendi ng 
 
Page 45 (Para 3.38)  
The Report notes, that "Regarding the possible imposition of safeguard measures, the WTO 
Committee on Safeguards received notifications in respect of investigations covering certain flat -
rolled products of iron or non -alloy steel ( HS 721070 and HS 721090), chemical plasticizers (HS 
38244000), and certain steel products. Although the GCC -TSAIP made preliminary determinations 
in all three cases that surging imports are causing serious injury or the threat of serious injury to 
GCC indu stries, the investigations are continuing without the imposition of provisional measures."  
 
Questions:  
8. Safeguard investigation on certain steel products is conducted by the GCC in regards to several 
products. The investigating authority presented inform ation on import trends and analysis of its 
influence on the domestic industry within the all product categories together. According to Article 
2.1 of the Agreement on Safeguards, measures may be applied to a product, not to the several 
products collectivel y which means that all the analysis of the import trends and its impact on the 
industry should be conducted separately for each of the product under investigation.  
In this regard, could Qatar, please, explain how presenting the trends and analysis within the bunch 
of the products together complies with the provision of Article 2.1 of the Agreement on Safeguards?  
 
Answer  
An analysis in terms of combined product categories does not preclude the application of measures 
to individual products. The analysis by the investigating body is presented in terms of combined 
product categories; it is conventional to group products in such analyses based on the nature, WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 57 - 
 
morphology or any other parameter to capture relevant and meaningful correlations between import 
trends and their impact on domestic industry.  
 
9. Would Qatar, please, explain how domestic legislation regulates self -initiation of the investigation? 
In particular, when there was no petition by the domestic industry, how could the investigating 
authority determine the "domestic industry"?  
 
Answer  
Domestic industry is determined as any establishment manufactured or semi - manufactured 
products including the operations of mixing, separating, forming, assembling and packing. Please 
refer to Article ( 1.4) (common industrial regulatory law& rules for implementation in Qatar)  
 
10. Would Qatar, please, explain how the self -initiated investigations comply with the obligation to 
provide reasons for initiation of the investigation according to Article 12.1 ( A) of the WTO Agreement 
on Safeguards?  
 
Answer  
For the time being, Qatar applies the GCC - law for safeguard investigation. Please refer to the GCC 
common Law on Antidumping, countervailing measures and safeguard measures for further 
information.  
 
According to available information on 23 October 2019 the Competent authority of the GCC initiated 
a safeguard investigation against the increase of imports of Certain Steel products 
(G/SG/N/6/SAU/3) and then made a Preliminary finding of ser ious injury or threat thereof caused 
by increased imports of Certain Steel Products (G/SG/N/8/SAU/3). On 20 January 2021 the GCC 
notified members that Competent Authority has found some relevant products that have to be added 
to the scope of the products u nder investigation; while some other products have been found to be 
excluded from the scope of the products under investigation (G/SG/N/6/SAU/3/Suppl.1).  
 
Questions:  
11. When is mentioned Safeguard investigation supposed to be concluded?  
 
Answer  
This inves tigation will likely conclude by May 2021. Please refer to the official Gazette of the GCC 
Bureau of Technical Secretariat for Anti Injurious Practices in International Trade for further details.  
12. What criteria did the Competent Authority apply to concl ude that imports of products under 
investigation were recent, sudden, sharp and significant enough?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
13. On what legal basis did the Competent authority decide to add new products within the ongoing 
investigation?  
 
Answer  
To be provi ded. 
3.3 Measures Affecting Production and Trade  
3.3.1 Incentives  
 
Page 47 (Para 3.50)  
Under the Report, "The QSTP operates a free zone that allows for up to 100% foreign ownership, 
and offers incentives including exemptions from all taxes including corporate income tax, 
unrestricted movement of capital and profits, and no import duties".  
 
Question:  
14. Could Qatar clarify whether exemptions from VAT and excise tax are applied in the free zone?  
 
Answer  
As at March 2021, Qatar does not apply a VAT tax. According to the General Authority of Customs, 
Qatar defines excise taxes as "consumption tax that is applied to specific goods that the State of WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Qatar deems harmful to human health and the environment". In consequence, only a few products 
are levied with an excise tax in Qatar, i.e. tobacco products (100% rate), carbonated drinks (50% 
rate), energy drinks (100% rate) and special goods (100% rate). Special goods are defined as goods 
that are consumed under specific  
conditions and authorizations. Exempted from the excise tax can be granted under special 
conditions. Further information can be found in https://gta.gov.qa/wp -
content/ uploads/2018/08/General -Tax-Authority -Excise -Tax-Taxable -Person -Guide.pdf .  
 
3.3.7 Intellectual property rights (IPRs)  
3.3.7.2 Economic policy context  
 
Page 62 (Para 3.113)  
It is mentioned in the Report: "The authorities stated that Qatar's national IP la ws do not have any 
provisions explicitly regulating parallel imports or exhaustion of rights regarding patents or 
trademarks. It is not clear to the Secretariat if parallel importation is allowed in practice. With 
regards to compulsory licensing, a grievan ce committee was set up in 2018 under Minister of 
Economy and Commerce Decree No. 154 of 2018; since then, no request has been submitted to this 
committee to obtain a compulsory licence."  
 
Questions:  
15. Would Qatar, please, elaborate whether parallel impo rtation is allowed in practice?  
 
Answer  
Parallel importation of goods subject to intellectual property and patenting rights is not permitted.  
 
16. Could Qatar describe its procedures concerning compulsory licensing, clarify functions of a 
grievance committ ee and inform on legal grounds and intention to use compulsory licensing for 
health protection purposes?  
 
Answer  
All procedures are set in the bylaw of the Patent law, issued by ministerial decision No. (153) of 
2018.  
 
17. Did acceptance of the 2005 Protocol Amending the WTO TRIPS Agreement by Qatar in 2016 
require any amendments of Qatar's national legislation for implementation of the Protocol's 
provisions? If yes, please, clarify.  
 
Answer  
No because according to artic le 68 of the Qatari Constitution, treaties are granted the status of 
national laws once ratified.  
 
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.2 Services  
4.2.1 Financial services  
 
Pages 67 - 68 (Para 4.16)  
The Report describes institutional and regulation framework of t he financial services sector of Qatar 
and mentions, that it remains sound, supported by strong profitability and capital. The sector is 
regulated by three institutions: the Qatar Central Bank (QCB), the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory 
Authority (QFCRA), and the Qatar Financial Market Authority (QFMA).  
 
Question:  
18. What are specific features of regulation and supervision of fintech companies in Qatar?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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PART II: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE REPORT  BY QATAR (WT/TPR/G/408)  
2 MAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS  
2.3 Agriculture and Food Security  
 
Page 17 (Para 2.13)  
The Report states, that "Qatar's agricultural strategy seeks to increase agricultural production in 
areas that meet three conditions: (i) Qatar has comparative advantages in their  production, (ii) their 
output is not appropriate for long -term storage and (iii) production does not deplete the country's 
groundwater sources. As a result, the country's supply of goods not meeting all three conditions has 
been ensured through the develo pment of strategic inventories built through imports. This includes 
wheat, rice, corn sugar and frozen poultry, amongst others".  
 
Questions:  
19. Could Qatar, please, further elaborate on the key principles and procedures of development and 
functioning of the above -mentioned "strategic inventories"?  
 
Answer  
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been in a position to develop and implement im portant 
and structured national programs and plans in the field of food security, perhaps the most prominent 
system is the system for managing and controlling strategic stocks of food and consumer goods. 
Among the most important features of the system is t he availability of collecting the various supply 
chains in one platform that enables to maintain a safe stock of food commodities such as rice, sugar, 
oil, flour, milk, meat, eggs, vegetables and other basic commodities. It is a system that has been in 
operation for more than two years.  
Food imports from abroad are carried out in full respect of the principles of the multilateral trading 
system, transparency and equal opportunities among the various trading partners of the State of 
Qatar. The system has al ready been established and operated, which has witnessed the following 
phases:  
1. The first phase: It started in June (2017), at which time it became evident that there was a 
lack of information about the size of the supply in the market, as the ministry did not have 
a database on the stocks of goods. Therefore, it has become evident of the importance of 
establishing an electronic system that monitors the quantities of goods entering through the 
state's customs ports.  
2. The second phase: with the beginning of th e year (2018), an idea emerged that period to 
develop an electronic system for managing strategic stock. The start of the inventory of the 
main suppliers and the initiation of the establishment of a database for the stocks in the 
governmental, semi -governm ental and private agencies.  
3. The third phase: specifically, in June (2018), the first phase of the electronic system for 
strategic stocks was launched. By virtue of the Ministry's membership in the Committee of 
the Follow Up Committee for the Implementation  of Food Security Policies in the Public and 
Private Sectors, and its Chair of the Strategic Storage Working Group and the International 
Trade and Logistics Work Team for Food Security, the Food Security Strategy developed by 
McKinsey & Company was used in  determining the basic commodities to achieve food 
security, the target stock quantities and the safe periods  
4. The fourth phase: It was launched in the fourth quarter of the year (2019), when Decree -
Law No. (24) for the year (2019) was issued to organize an d manage the strategic stocks of 
food and consumer goods.  
 
The electronic system allows:  
• Monitoring and controlling strategic stocks  
• Determining the ratio of imports and sources of strategic goods and companies dealing in 
these commodities  
• Identifying the internal trade movement and determining the ratio of domestic production 
of national products in comparison with imported goods  
• In addition to carefully monitoring the strategic stock and evaluating the effectiveness of its 
circulation in the market to mai ntain the quality and validity of the products,  
The electronic system also vested a fundamental role in providing automatic connecting systems 
among the system partners to monitor strategic stocks of food and consumer goods, especially:  
• The General Customs Authority  
• Suppliers (Wholesalers)  
• Major Sales Outlets (Retailers)  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 60 - 
 
• Domestic manufacturers (National Producers).  
It is worth noting that the system consists of three aspects, including legislative, electronic and 
logistical. The legislative aspect was completed through the issuance of Decree -Law No. (24) of 2019 
regarding organizing and managing strategic stocks of food and consumer goods. As for the 
electronic aspect, it includes the establishment of an integrated electronic syst em for controlling the 
strategic stock, which was designed and built for the purposes of monitoring the strategic stock 
through direct connection with all concerned parties. With regard to the logistical aspect, it includes 
enhancing the storage capacity r equired to form the target stock of food and consumer goods.  
 
20. Have any of such inventories been already established?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
Page 18 (Para 2.15)  
The indicated paragraph of the Report contains a brief description of the four strategic pi llars of 
Qatar's National Food Security Strategy 2019 –2023.  
 
Question:  
21. Could Qatar, please, provide a list of incentives envisaged for the fulfilment of the domestic self -
sufficiency pillar?  
 
Answer  
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment provides  support for traditional small and medium 
scale food producers i.e. farmers / livestock owners / fishermen in the following manner:  
• For Farms:  
− Agricultural extension support and training.  
− Farming inputs; seeds, seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides.  
− Farming equipment's: greenhouses, tractors, and other types of farming equipment.  
− Providing support via different programs aimed toward utilization of local farms to 
produce other type of food like honey, small scale fish farming and table egg.  
− Implementation of agricultural financing programs in coordination with other 
government entities like Qatar Development Bank.  
− For livestock:  
− Allocation of land for livestock breeding and fattening.  
− Livestock breeding services i.e. equipment used for sheering, milking, etc.  
− Livestock vaccines and veterinary medications.  
− Registering all of the livestock in the country and provide documentation for livestock 
possession which is necessary for livestock owners to receive subsidized feed and 
water.  
− Implemen tation of livestock financing programs in coordination with other 
government entities like Qatar Development Bank.  
• For fisheries:  
− Provide financial aid to traditional fishing boats.  
− Provide operational support to active fishing boats i.e. fuel and ice used  for fish 
preservation.  
− Implementation of fisheries financing programs in coordination with other 
government entities like Qatar Development Bank.  
 
For large -scale food producers the MME, in coordination with other government entity, provides 
incentives fo r food security projects such as:  
• Provide access to land via land lease agreements at subsidized rates.  
• Provide water and power at subsidized rates.  
• Provide access to financing in coordination with other government entities such as Qatar 
Development Bank.  
• Monitoring the local markets and introduce market policies / intervention as necessary to 
support local food production investments.  
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3 TRADE POLICY REGIME  
3.8 Investment Promotion  
 
Page 39 (Para 3.38)  
Under the Report, "Since 2014 Qatar has expanded its trade promotion presence and activities. To 
this end, commercial attaché offices were opened in London, Paris and Washington, DC with the 
operations of Qatar's representative office to the WTO in Geneva being revamped as well. The 
attachés' ac tivities are actively coordinated with the MOCI and Qatar's main investment promotion 
agencies. The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA), in particular, partly implements its own 
promotion strategy through the attachés' offices."  
 
Questions:  
22. Would Q atar, please, specify the main role, functions and tasks of commercial attaché offices in 
other countries in the context of investment promotion?  
 
Answer  
The function and tasks of the commercial attachés are as follows:  
 
• Providing data and information on economic, commercial, and financial activities and events 
held in the State of Qatar and translating them into the language of the country in which the 
attaché is located.  
 
• Promoting these events with the aim of attractin g investors on one hand and promoting 
commercial, investment and tourism on the other hand.  
 
• Provide data and information on economic, commercial, and financial activities and events 
that are held in the countries in which the attaché is located, and make them available to 
those wishing to participate and those interested in general well in advance of the date of 
their establishment, and prepare tables in Arabic of these activities and events and support 
them with bulletins issued by the bodies organizing t hese activities and events.  
 
• Contributing to the preparation of trade fairs held in the State of Qatar and announcing them 
in the countries in which the attaché is located. Contacting the relevant foreign bodies and 
extending invitations to them to partici pate. 
 
• Arranging visits of Qatari commercial delegations to the host country, or foreign delegations 
to Qatar, in coordination with the relevant authorities, and contributing to the preparation 
of schedules commensurate with the purpose of the visit.  
 
• Continuous follow -up of the regulations and procedures issued in the State of Qatar and the 
policies taken related to investments, provide feedback and recommendations about them 
and their expected effects.  
 
• Introduce the investment opportunities and investmen t advantages available in Qatar to 
potential investors in the host country.  
 
• Organising seminars/webinars and meetings between Qatar investment promotion 
organisations and targeted audience for priority sectors.  
 
23. Do these offices are established on the embassies' basis?  
 
Answer  
The offices of the commercial attaché are established within Qatar's embassies in each of the 
countries where this type of representation exists.  
 
3.8.1 Investment Promotion Agency Qatar  
 
Pages 40 - 41 
The Repor t describes activity of Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA) and states that IPA's 
vision is to secure sustainable investments into Qatar to drive the country's knowledge economy and 
its process of diversification. It is mentioned in the Report, that "i ts mission includes the promotion 
and marketing of Qatar as an investment destination, in line with QNV 2030 and QSNDS' goals of WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 62 - 
 
attracting and facilitating investments that posit the development of home -grown skilled labour with 
high value -added impact on  the economy".  
 
Questions:  
24. Could Qatar, please, clarify whether IPA provides support and clarification needed to the foreign 
investors that intend to conduct investment activities on the territory of Qatar and, if so, inform on 
such services?  
 
Answer  
IPA does provide support and clarification for foreign investors seeking to invest in Qatar. To this 
end, IPA can introduce foreign investors to the relevant regulatory framework, explain the detail the 
incentives available for foreign investors and help in vestors develop their own network of contacts 
in Qatar. In particular, because IPA is itself connected across Qatar's institutional landscape, 
including with the private sector, it can put foreign investors in contact with the key public and 
private stakeh olders needed for their investors, including public sector decision -making entities.  
IPA's vision is to secure sustainable investments into Qatar to drive the country's knowledge 
economy and its process of diversification. Its mission includes the promotio n and marketing of 
Qatar as an investment destination. Moreover, IPA seeks to attract investments into tourism, 
advanced manufacturing (including chemicals and electronics), infrastructure (including Public 
Private Partnerships and real estate), agricultur e and technology development. A second sector focus 
includes financial and professional services, entertainment (including sports) and logistics. The 
profile of investors sought is primarily mid to large investors with a secondary emphasis on SMEs. 
Both Ti er 1 and 2 investors are targeted with an equal focus on both new and existing investors.  
 
25. Ukraine would also appreciate if Qatar could provide more detailed information on the incentives 
offered by Qatari authorities to attract foreign investments.  
 
Answer  
Law No. (1) of 2019, on foreign investment in Qatar, provides for the following incentives:  
 
► Tax exemptions. A five -year exemption on corporate income tax for foreign -owned 
companies deriving income from sources in Qatar. An extension of the initial period may be 
granted by the Council of Ministers. The Council may also, upon the Ministry of Finance's 
recommendation, grant preferential tax rates for specific sectors and activities. Article 4 of 
Law No. (24) of 2018 also grants tax exemp tions to foreign investors' profit shares in listed 
companies, investments with units listed in financial markets and derived from trading 
securities.  
► Customs duty exemptions.  
► Allocation of land. Article 8 of Law No. (1) states that land may be allocated to foreign 
investors through lease or usufruct, in accordance with Law No. (16) of 2018 on foreign 
ownership of real estate in Qatar.  
► Favourable remittance conditions.  
► Right to  transfer shares. A foreign investor can transfer the ownership to any other investor, 
Qatari or otherwise, or assign ownership to a national partner in the case of partnerships.  
► Due process in the case of expropriation and compensations.  
 
Further detail s can be found in the government report (section 3.7). In addition, Qatar offers foreign 
investors:  
 
► Double Taxation treaties with 60+ countries  
► No quantitative quotas on imports  
► No income tax on salaries  
► Open immigration and employment rules to support th e importation of labour  
► Minimum wage and wage protections laws  
► Strong financial and banking sector to support transactions  
► Access to most public business and administrative services via e -Government platform (Al 
Hukoomi)  
 
Additional details can also be fou nd in section 3.8.1 of the government report.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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3.11 Intellectual Property  
 
Page 45 (Para 3.73)  
According to the Report Qatar ratified the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) – through Decree No. 
(36) of 2011 – whilst providing legal protection to patents throu gh Law No. (30) of 2006. Efforts 
were made since 2014 to streamline the process of patent registration resulting in an electronic 
registration process through MOCI's single window service website since 2017. Through it, applicants 
can file the documentatio n under either the PCT or the Paris Convention for the Protection of 
Industrial Property.  
 
Question:  
26. As according to WIPO and WTO reports the number of non -resident patent applications in Qatar 
is exceeding those submitted by the residents, how does t he Government of Qatar consider this 
situation, and can the ratification of the PCT and subsequent actions by the Government contribute 
to change the picture of the patent applications?  
 
Answer  
Qatar is of the view that there is no correlation between resident and non -resident patent 
applications because the former relates to the local innovation ecosystem while the latter relates to 
the desires of non -resident applicants to seek protection in Qatar. PCT is already ratified and in force 
in Qatar . 
 
4 TRADE AGREEMENTS  
4.2 The Gulf Cooperation Council  
 
Pages 49 - 50 (Para 4.4)  
The Report notes, that Qatar maintained an active participation in the activities of the GCC  and 
describes three key initiatives at the GCC level which are supported by the work of the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry of Qatar (MOCI). One of these initiatives is to establish a unified food 
security network in the GCC States. The initiative, whic h was launched by the GCC's Trade 
Cooperation Committee, is actively supported by Qatar. In this regard, the MOCI worked in 
coordination with the concerned parties to identify views and opinions on the extent of the possibility 
of achieving the goals set f orth by the initiative - these are, to create an integrated food security 
system between the states of the Council and to secure adequate food stocks in times of crisis. The 
issue is still being studied by the competent technical committees within the fram ework of the 
Cooperation Council.  
 
Questions:  
27. Could Qatar, please, provide information on expected terms of establishing a unified food 
security network in the GCC States?  
 
Answer   
To be provided.  
28. How can Ukraine take part in this process and what are possible forms of cooperation?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 64 - 
 
13  UNITED STATES  
Questions based on the Secretariat Report (WT/TPR/S/408)  
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1.4 Other charges affecting imports  
Page 43, paragraph 3.30:  According to the Secretariat Report, "Qatar began to impose excise tax 
on specific goods considered harmful to human health on 1 January 2019. The tax applies to raw 
tobacco and tobacco products (cigars, cigarettes, cigarillos, water pipe tobacco, and oth er tobacco 
goods), energy drinks, carbonated drinks (other than non -flavoured aerated water), and special 
purpose goods, i.e. alcoholic beverages and pork. The tax rate was set at 100%, except for 
carbonated drinks that are subject to the tax (the rate was  set at 50%). Revenues from the excise 
tax are earmarked for improvements in public services, including hospitals, education, and 
infrastructure. In 2019, the new excise tax regime raised approximately QAR 1.2 billion."  
1. Will Qatar  exempt beverages that con tain no added sugar as well as low -calorie beverages 
from this tax?  
2. If not, when and how will Qatar switch from an ad -valorem tax to a graduated tax based on 
sugar content in beverages?  
3. Will Qatar revise this tax to also cover fruit juices and milk -based p roducts that contain 
added sugars  in which the total sugar content (from either natural and/or added sugars) 
exceeds the minimum threshold of 5g per 100ml?  
4. Does Qatar plan to revise this tax further to ensure there is no discrimination between 
beverage cat egories?  
5. What is Qatar's formal mechanism for consulting with private industry, trading partner 
governments , and other interested parties regarding the selective tax, particularly in 
advance of possible revisions?  
6. What is the timeline to inform private ind ustry, governments, and other interested parties 
about the study being undertaken by GCC Member States on revising this tax?  
7. What is the status of Qatar's consideration regarding the long -term implications of continued 
industry volume decline for: (1) sust ainable streams of tax revenue; (2) upstream, direct 
and downstream employment and investments; and (3) viability of the beverage industry in 
Qatar?  
8. Private industry stakeholders  have suggested that Qatar revise the Excise Tax Law and the 
Implementing  Regulations of the Excise Tax Law. For example, it would be in line with 
established international best practice models to establish a broader product base with 
significantly lower rates and provide non -discriminatory treatment of beverage cat egories 
through a graduated tax system based on sugar content that incentivizes product 
reformulation. Has Qatar considered less trade -disruptive alternatives to the excise tax?  
 
Answer to Questions 1 to 8  
To be provided.  
 
3.3 Measures Affecting Production  and Trade  
3.3.1 Incentives  
Pages 46 -49, paragraphs 3.46 -3.52 and Table 3.6: Pursuant to Article 25 of the Agreement on 
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement), Qatar reported in G/SCM/N/284/QAT (18 
September 2015) that "it does not grant or maintain within its territory any subsidy within the 
meaning of Article 1:1 of the Agreement which is specific within the meaning of Article 2 of the 
Agreement, or which operates directly or indirectly to increase exports from or reduce imports into 
its territory within the meaning of Article XVI:1 of GATT 1994."  
9. In light of this, could Qatar explain, as to each of the programs mentioned in the Secretariat 
Report and listed below, why the program is not subject to the notification requirements 
under Articl es 25.1 and 25.2 of the SCM Agreement?  
a. Free zones incentives provided pursuant to Law No. 34 of 2005, Decree Law No. 21 
of 2017, and the 2018 Free Zones Authority Licensing Regulations.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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b. Corporate tax incentives provided pursuant to the Income Tax Law (Law No. 24 of 
2018) and Executive Regulations (Decision No. 39 of 2019).  
c. QDB Al -Dhameen credit guarantee and export finance programs.  
d. QDB direct lending programs, including targeted funding for the development of, 
inter alia , the technology sector, the high ex port-oriented sectors, and projects for 
reducing Qatari reliance on imports.  
Answer  
Qatar is working with the relevant national institutions to determine which programmes are to be 
notified to the WTO under the various notification obligations. Furthermore, in the case that 
notification obligations are determined, the process also seeks to agree on a solution for 
automatically submitting notifications to the WTO Secretariat. The solution would be based on an 
arrangement with the WTO Secretariat f or the automatic electronic transmission of data at regular 
intervals.  
 
10. Unless it can be explained why these programs are not subject to the notification 
requirements under Articles 25.1 and 25.2, we ask Qatar to please notify these programs 
pursuant to Ar ticle 25, with the level of information specified under Article 25.3, of the SCM 
Agreement.  
Page 48, table 3.6: The Secretariat Report notes that the Qatar Development Bank "provides 
funding for the development of the technology sector, sectors that extens ively use available raw 
materials, sectors that are highly environment friendly and use only renewable energy sources, high 
export -oriented sectors, and projects for reducing Qatari reliance on imports for a particular 
product."  
11. Please explain how Qatar v iews this funding in light of Article 3, covering prohibited 
subsidies, of the ASCM.  
Answer  
To be provided.  
Page 49, paragraph 3.54: The Secretariat Report notes that Qatar has not provided an updated 
subsidy notification since 2015, and that during the p eriod of review, Qatar believes that it does not 
maintain any subsidies as defined by the ASCM.  
12. Please confirm that Qatar currently maintains no subsidies as defined by the ASCM.  
13. When does Qatar intend to provide an updated notification to the subsidies c ommittee?  
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
3.3.2 Standards and other technical requirements  
Page 51, paragraph 3.63:  According to the Secretariat Report, Qatar launched the Qatari Quality 
Mark in August 2020. Pursuant to the implementation of the Qatari Quality Mark regulation (No. 60 
of 2018), the QS grants a license to use the Qatari Quality Mark for products that com ply with the 
approved standard specifications. The license to use the mark is valid for two years (renewable). 
The scheme is voluntary and is available for local and imported goods as long as they meet the 
requirements.  
14. Please provide copies of all releva nt regulations instituting the Qatari Quality Mark  and those 
outlining  the scope of product coverage.  
15. Please provide a list of all products that will be covered by the Qatari Quality Mark  and the 
dates for which conformity with the program will be required . 
Answer to question 14  
Please find attached copies of:  
1. Ministerial Decree No. (112) of 2019 for the determination of fees for services provided and 
the certificates issued by Qatar General Organization for Standardization  
2. Ministerial Decree No. (60) of 2 018 issuing the regulations for granting the Qatari Quality 
Mark 
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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These are in Arabic with an unofficial translation of the main bodies of each.  
 
Answer to question 15  
As in the Secretariat report, the Qatari Quality Mark is voluntary and open to all manufacturers and 
suppliers at their own discretion. The Decree provides the legal basis for Qatar General Organization 
for Standardization to conduct the activity.  
3.3.3 Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
Paragraph 3.72, pages 53 -54: According to the Se cretariat Report, "sample testing [in Qatar] is 
done according to a risk -based approach, taking into consideration new -to-market products or 
products that failed a previous inspection."  
16. Please provide further details concerning the criteria of this 'risk -based approach' . 
17. Please clarify whether the criteria used in this risk -based approach will be based on existing 
international  standards, recommendations, and guidelines of international standard setting 
bodies, such as OIE, IPPC and Codex.  
Answer to questi on 16  
The risk -based approach builds an Electronic System for each type of food and uses the following 
criteria:  
 
• The first criteria is inherent characteristics/nature of the foodstuff: determined according to 
the 16 food categories as described in CODEX  
• The second criteria is the country of origin considering the history of compliance of foodstuff 
imported from each county  
• The third criteria is the suspected consumption group, especially if foodstuff is prepared for 
special nutritional purpose.  
• The histor y of compliance  
• Other criteria based on scientific references  
 
Answer to question 17  
All risk -based criteria undertaken and determined in Qatar are based on international standard -
setting bodies, such as OIE, IPPC and Codex.  
 
Page 54, paragraph 3.73:   
18. Please provide further information on the criteria for recognizing exporting countries' health 
certificates to ensure food safety. For example, will Qatar restrict recognition of an exporting 
country's health certificate to those only provided by a federal  and/or state -level regulatory 
authority?  
19. Will Qatar also recognize third -party certification?  
Answer to question 18  
As mentioned in Qatar's Importers Guide, which is published on the Ministry of Public Health's 
website, Health Certificate should be issued  by the competent authority at the country of 
origin/exporting country, related to the shipment and include clear health attestations.  
Answer to question 19  
Health Certificates from third party are accepted in Qatar if this party is authorized by the compe tent 
authority at the country of origin/exporting country to undertake measures for this purpose.  
 
3.3.5 State trading, state -owned enterprises, and privatization  
3.3.5.1 State trading  
3.3.5.2 State -owned enterprises (SOEs) and privatization  
Page 58, paragraph 3.96: The Secretariat Report notes that it is not clear if SOEs obtain support 
from the Government.  
20. Please clarify whether there are private sector (e.g. non -state owned) companies competing 
in the sectors in which SOEs operate in Qatar , and whether those SOEs receive support from 
the Government.  
Answer  
Most sectors where SOE operate in Qatar do not have private sector participation, such broadcasting, 
oil and gas and aluminum production. However, there are some others that do include b oth SOE and 
private sector companies, such as food distribution, telecommunications, real estate (commercial WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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real estate). In practice, private sector companies do operate in sectors in which SOEs operate in 
Qatar, but invariably in partnership with those SOEs. These partnerships operate on a commercial 
basis and there are no known instances of SOEs being subsidized by the government to the detriment 
of private companies operating in the same sector. As a matter of policy, the state of Qatar provides 
suppor t to all Qatari companies, regardless of private or public ownership.  
 
Page 59, paragraph 3.97: The Secretariat Report notes that the Government of Qatar was 
developing a privatization roadmap but that the results were not available.  
21. Please identify the S OEs and sectors Qatar intends to privatize and the timeline for this 
privatization.  
Answer  
A privatization roadmap has yet to be developed and formally approved by the Government. As 
such, no timeline for privatization has, as yet, been defined. Studies ha ve been conducted by 
international consultancy organisations engaged by key stakeholders to analyse and assess SOEs 
and the potential for each to be privatized. The analysis is not definitive but did utilize an industry 
standard IPO readiness model to asse ss each company and to identify whether privatization, at this 
time, is feasible. A summary of the sectors and example entities considered is shown below, along 
with a list of potential candidates.  
 
Travel, Transportation     Examples: Qatar Rail, Qatar Ai rways, Mowasalat  
Energy, Oil & Gas     Examples: QatarGas  
Infrastructure and Real Estate   Examples: Katara Hospitality  
Commodities      Examples: Hassad Foods, QPMC  
Logistics      Examples: QPost  
 
3.3.7 Intellectual property rights (IPRs)  
3.3.7.4 Copyright and related rights  
Page 63, paragraph 3.120:  The Secretariat Report states that Decision No. 410 of 2014 
"encourage[s] copyright owners to register their rights," and that pursuant to this decision, 
"applicants may obtain a copyright certificate once they pay a copyright filing fee."  
22. What are the benefits  of registering a copyright under this decision?  
23. What does the process to obtain a copyright certificate entail, in addition to the filing fee?  
24. Does the process  require a legal review before th e certificate is granted?  
25. How does the certificate "empower copyright owners" to enforce their rights?  
Answer to question 22  
Law No (7) of 2002 provides certificates a higher evidential power that cannot be disproven in courts. 
Copyright is still protecte d without registration.  
 
Answer to question 23  
The process involves, inter alia , a review of the rights and their supporting documents.  
 
Answer to question 24  
The legal review includes a review of the supporting documents and the possibility of protection . 
However, the legal review does not lead to a higher -level protection than that granted by the law.  
 
Answer to question 25  
Please refer to the answer to question 22.  
 
Questions based on the Government Report (WT/TPR/G/408)  
2 MAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS  
2.4 Fiscal Policy  
Page 19, paragraph 2.20:  The Government Report indicates that the "state's debt issuances are 
used as benchmarks by local State -Owned Enterprises (…) to anchor prices."  
26. How do SOEs use state debt to anchor prices?  
27. Does the state debt act to subsidize or lower prices?  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Answer to  question 26  
The State of Qatar's debt issuances set a reference and benchmark for SOEs, and other government 
related -entities (GREs) for, if and when, they themselves go to market (i.e. in terms of a gauge for 
price range and maturity).  
Answer to question  27 
No, State debt does not act to subsidize or lower prices.  
 
3 TRADE POLICY REGIME  
3.4 Customs Procedures  
3.4.2 Trade Facilitation Measures  
Page 34, paragraph 3.11 -317: The Government Report states that Qatar is implementing several 
trade facilitative re forms to streamline import, export, and transit.  We understand that Qatar 
currently requires authentication of Certificates of Origin and Commercial Invoices at Embassies 
and/or Consulates prior to importation into Qatar. The United States has continuously  questioned 
the necessity of any such requirements, since we cannot see any trade purpose such requirements 
serve. We would like to understand the trade purpose this practice serves.  
28. Please explain Qatar's requirements to have documents authenticated/veri fied in light of 
implementation of TFA Article 10.1.1?  
29. What other documents does Qatar Customs require for such authentication?  
30. Are such requirements in place for documents required by any other government agency 
that regulates imports?  
31. Is notarization re quired for any import documents?  If so, what measure imposes the 
requirement for notarization?  
32. Who is recognized to provide notarization?   
33. Please provide an update for when Qatar will include information regarding these reforms, 
and all other import, expor t, and transit requirements, to the WTO Secretariat to fulfill 
Qatar's obligations under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Articles 1.4, 10.6.3, 10.4.2, 
and 12.2.2. The deadline for Qatar to submit this information to the WTO was February 22, 
2017.  
Answ er to question 28  
Invoices and certificates of origin are required to be authenticated under Law No. (4) of 1992. 
Resolution No. 28 of 2016, on the determination of the fees for some services performed by the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regulates the fees  for document authentication at the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs and its diplomatic and consular missions and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.  
 
Answer to question 29  
The General Authority of Customs does not require additional documents for authentication.  
 
Answer to question 30  
All imports into Qatar are supervised under the umbrella of the General Authority of Customs. Thus, 
all statutory requirements are documented  and streamlined through the GAC. Some of those 
documents may include documentation from the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Ministry 
of Defense, Interior, Commerce and Industry, etc. Authentication required by the customs 
authorities only refers  to invoices and certificates of origin.  
 
Answer to question 31  
Authentication is required for certificates of origin and commercial invoices only.  
 
Answer to question 32  
The entities authorized to authenticate documentation (for the purposes of importatio n) are the 
Qatari embassies and consulates abroad.  
 
Answer to question 33  
Qatar is working with the relevant national institutions to determine which programmes are to be 
notified to the WTO under the various notification obligations. Furthermore, in the case that 
notification obligations are determined, the process also seeks t o agree on a solution for WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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automatically submitting notifications to the WTO Secretariat. The solution would be based on an 
arrangement with the WTO Secretariat for the automatic electronic transmission of data at regular 
intervals.  
 
FOLLOW -UP AND ADDITIONA L QUESTIONS BY THE UNITED STATES  
 
Follow -up Questions Based on Questions and Answers  (RD/TPR/1253/Add.1)  
Note: we again ask that Qatar fully answer our advance written questions to which it responded "To 
be provided " in RD/TPR/1253/Add.1.  
EU Question N° 19  (RD/TPR/1253/Add.1, page 25)  
Have Collective Management Organizations been established in Qatar?  
Answer to EU Question 19:  
No. 
U.S. Follow -up Question:  Does Qatar foresee the establishment of collective management 
organizations in the future and, if so, what is the expected timeline for this process?  
Answer  
The issue of having a system with collective management organizations is currently being 
considere d. However, there is no timeline for such project yet.  
 
U.S. Question N°22  (RD/TPR/1253/Add.1, page 43)  
The Secretariat Report [Page 63, paragraph 3.120] states that Decision No. 410 of 2014 
"encourage[s] copyright owners to register their rights," and that pursuant to this decision, 
"applicants may obtain a copyright certificate once they pay a copyright filing fee."  
22. What are the benefits of registering a copyright under this decision?  
Answer to U.S. Question 22:  
Law No (7) of 2002 prov ides certificates a higher evidential power that cannot be disproven in courts. 
Copyright is still protected without registration.  
U.S. Follow -up Questions:  
• Given that a copyright registration cannot be disproven in court, please describe in detail 
the pr ocess by which Qatar examines a copyright application and verifies the information 
provided in the application.  
Answer  
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry 's website contains information that explains the steps to be 
undertaken for issuing a certificate of deposit and preservation of rights through the ministry 's portal. 
This service allows depositing and preserving the rights of the author and the owners of neighboring 
rights and granting the applicant a certificate of deposit proving his/her  financial and literary rights 
to his/her artistic or literary work in accordance with the law and international agreements and 
treaties, where the user must: Log in to the system ( https://services.mec.gov.qa ) and submit a 
request to issue a certificate of deposit and preservation of rights, then specify the status of the 
applicant, the data of the work to be protected, a brief description of the work, and add the 
compulsory required attachments. When the applicat ion is submitted, the concerned authority 
reviews the application that was submitted with the possibility of returning it to the applicant for the 
service and clarifying the reason for the return.  
Once the application is approved, the user is notified that  his/her application was accepted and that 
the prescribed fee must be paid according to the applicant 's capacity determined at the beginning 
of the registration. Once the deposit and preservation fees are paid, the certificate is sent via e -mail 
• Does the l aw provide for penalties against a party that includes false information in a 
copyright application? If so, please describe these penalties.  
Answer  
Law No. (7) of 2002, on the protection of copyright and related rights, includes a chapter on 
measures and p enalties. Furthermore, the Penal Code provides for such penalties, which are 
considered to be fraud. An example is Article 354 of the Penal Code which considers imprisonment 
of up to three years for such acts.  
 
• Is there a process in place for canceling a c opyright registration that has been granted in 
error to a party other than the right holder? If so, please describe that process.  
Answer  
In such a case, the decisions must be referred to the Intellectual Property Rights Protection 
Department at the Ministr y of Commerce and Industry. A  decision is thereafter taken by the Ministry.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Questions based on the Secretariat Report  (WT/TPR/S/408)  
2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
2.2 Trade Policy Formulation and Objectives  
Page 23, paragraph 2.15: According to the Secretariat Report, among other agencies involved in 
the implementation of specific aspects of trade policy include… the Ministry of Municipality and 
Environment (MME), which contains an Agriculture Affairs Departm ent, a Livestock Department, and 
an Agricultural Research Department. The United States notes that in National Gazette law 123 of 
2019, Qatar 's MME implemented emergency measures affecting horticultural and dairy products. 
These included a regulation estab lishing shelf -life and fat content requirements for dairy products.  
34. Please explain in more detail the role and legal authorities of MME in establishing and 
implementing technical regulations and standards for food and agricultural products. Please 
cite th e legal basis for these authorities and the implementing regulations or decrees.  
Answer  
Qatar General Authority for Specifications and Standardization (QGASS) is the authority responsible 
for preparing and approving standard specifications for Qatari goods and products in coordination 
with the concerned authorities . It is also the authority responsible for proposing legislation on 
standards and standardization, in accordance with Emiri Decree No. 44 of 2014 . 
In particular, the said legislation provides  QGASS with t he legal authority to undertake action on 
food and agricultural matters, based on a special section of the Decree, that deals  with the following:  
1. Setting plans and programs aimed at preparing studies to amend and update technical 
regulations a nd food and agricultural standard specifications as well as working on their 
implementation in coordination with the concerned authorities.  
 
2. Participate in studying draft technical regulations and food and agricultural standard 
specifications at the Gulf, Arab and international levels, and make observations about them in 
coordination with the concerned authorities.  
 
3. Compilation of technical regulations, food and agricultural standard specifications issued at the 
international, Arab or Gulf level, and sugges ting what is necessary in the national field.  
 
4. Preparing and formulating draft technical regulations and national food and agricultural 
standards in coordination with the concerned authorities and following up the procedures for 
their approval and issuance . 
 
5. Follow up on the translation of technical regulations and food and agricultural standards.  
 
6. Preparing brochures, publications and information programs to raise awareness in the field of 
technical regulations and food and agricultural standard specifications in coordination with the 
competent authority.  
 
7. Proposing the selling prices of the technical regulations and the national food and agricultural 
standards, and the relevant brochures and publications.  
 
8. Follow up the implementation of internat ional and regional agreements regarding the 
department's activities, in coordination with the concerned authorities.  
 
9. Participating in preparing the national standards guide in coordination with the specialized 
administrative units.  
 
35. Please explain why these measures have not been notified to the appropriate WTO 
committees, including the committees on agriculture, sanitary and phytosanitary protection, 
and technical barriers to trade.  
Answer  
Qatar is working with the relevant national institutions to det ermine which programmes are to be 
notified to the WTO under the various notification obligations. Furthermore, in the case that 
notification obligations are determined, the process also seeks to agree on a solution for 
automatically submitting notification s to the WTO Secretariat. The solution would be based on an 
arrangement with the WTO Secretariat for the automatic electronic transmission of data at regular 
intervals.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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36. Please provide an update on when Qatar will submit the required notifications. In part icular, 
when will Qatar notify the 2019 regulation establishing shelf -life and fat content 
requirements for dairy products established?  
Answer  
Please see the answer to question 35  
 
37. Please explain the objective  of the shelf -life and fat content requirements  on dairy products 
and through what process these requirements were established. Please provide a science -
based explanation of how the requirements achieve the objectives of this regulation.  
Answer  
This is done strictly for the purpose of safeguarding human health. The decision was taken by MME 
specialists through an internal ministerial investigation. Furthermore, the measure applies to both 
local and foreign product. Further details can be provided upon request.  
 
38. Please explain if these r equirements also apply to domestically produced products.  
Answer  
The requirements are applied in a non -discriminatory manner to both foreign and domestically 
produced products.  
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
 
3.3.7.3 Industrial property rights  
Page 62, para. 3.115:  The Secretariat Report notes that "Under Law No. 9 of 2002 on Trademarks, 
Trade Indications, Trade Names, Geographical Indications and Industrial Designs, trademarks are 
protected for 10 years from the date of filing, renewable  for 10 -year periods thereafter."  
39. What is the term of protection for GIs?  
Answer  
The domestic legislation does not include a time limit for GI protection.  
 
3.3.7.5 Enforcement  
Page 63, para. 3.122:  The Secretariat Report notes that "IPR protection at the b order is the 
responsibility of the General Authority of Customs."  
40. Does the General Authority of Customs have an IPR recordation database set up or any 
type of data sharing agreement with the Intellectual Property Rights Department? If not, 
does Customs in tend to set up such systems?  
Answer  
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the General Authority of Customs and the 
Ministry of Commerce and Industry regarding the use and exchange of IPAS program information 
used by the Ministry, and coordinatio n is currently underway between the Operations Department 
and Risk Analysis at the Authority with the Intellectual Property Rights Protection Department to 
start distributing usernames and passwords to specialists in the General Authority of Customs.  In 
consequence, the General Authority of Customs does have access to the databases of the IPR 
protection department.  
 
Page 63, para. 3.123:  The Secretariat Report notes that "The authorities state that in 2019, 436 
inspection campaigns were organized (429 on tr ademarks and 7 on copyrights), and irregularities 
were found in 190 trademarks and 7 copyrights."  
41. Of the 190 trademark and 7 copyrights cases in which irregularities were found, did the 
accused receive punishments? If so, what were the nature of the punis hments? Moreover, 
if the goods were counterfeit or pirated, were the goods confiscated and ultimately 
destroyed?  
Answer  
In most cases the matter is settled between the infringing party and the right holder under the 
supervision and facilitation of the IPR protection department. Otherwise, infringements can be tried 
in a court of law for a few years through  different court levels until a final judgment is reached. If WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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the goods were proven to be counterfeited or pirated, they would certainly be confiscated with m ost 
copyright infringements involv ing imprisonment of up to 3 years.   
 
Questions Based on the Government 's Report  (WT/TPR/G/408)  
 
3 TRADE POLICY REGIME  
 
3.11 Intellectual Property  
Page 45, para. 3.71:  The Government Report notes that: "Geographical indications are protected 
by law even if they are not registered in Qatar. " 
42. Does this apply to both foreign and domestic GIs?  
Answer  
Yes. However, the system of GI protection through registration is not yet active in Qatar.  
 
43. How does Qatar protect GIs that are not registered? Is this done through a judicial process 
or does Qatar draw from a listing?  
Answer  
Given that Qatar is yet to activate GI registration , GI protection is done through investigations, 
undertaken by the authorities, triggered by complaints brought to the IPR Protection Department. 
The investigations, which are undertaken by the IPR Protection Department, reach conclusions that 
have the force of law, which may be challenged in a court of l aw should the party affected decide to 
do so.  
 
44. How does Qatar determine whether an unregistered GI is viewed as a common name by 
Qatari consumers?  
Answer  
Should that situation arise, the IPR Protection Department at the MOCI is mandated to determine 
whethe r the registered GI is in fact viewed as common name by local consumers or not. The 
determination is done through an investigation. The affected party may challenge the decision in a 
national court of law .  
 
45. Does unregistered GI protection apply to give an  aggrieved party standing to bring action? 
Can unregistered GIs be cited against, or be used to block or oppose, an application for GI 
and trademark registration?  
Answer  
In line with standing practice, the answer to both questions is y es. 
 
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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14  THAILAND  
Document Code  Questions  
WT/TPR /S/408   
Para 3 .116  Page  
62 
 
 
 This paragraph indicates that GIs are protected even if they are not 
registered. Persons residing in a place particularly renowned for protection of 
certain goods may prevent those trading in similar goods from another place, 
or from placing their mark on them to prevent confusion.  
 
Question  
Could Qatar elaborate the difference between the protections of registered 
GIs and non -registered GIs?  
 
Answer  
The rules regarding GIs are not yet fully enforced in Qatar. The authorities 
expect these to be enforced in the near future.  
WT/TPR /G/408   
Para 3 .71 Page  45 This paragraph indicates that GIs are protected by law even if they are not 
registered in Qatar. Could Qatar provide further information on the protection 
of non -registered GIs?  
 
Answer  
The rules regarding GIs are not yet fully enforced in Qatar. The authorities 
expect these to be enforced in the near future.  
WT/TPR /S/408   
Para 1 .19, 1.20   
Page  19 
 para 1.19 Page  19:  
"According to the PSA, its most recent survey (conducted jointly with the QCB) 
indicated that the stock of foreign invest ment in Qatar stood at QAR 714.7 
billion at the end of 2018. The majority of the asset (68%) held by non -
residents were "other" investments, e.g. bank deposits and other short -term 
financial investments. Portfolio investments accounted for close to QAR 100  
billion of the investment stock, while FDI totaled QAR 123.3 billion…."  
para 1.20  Page  19: 
"The stock of FDI declined by QAR 6 billion from 2017 to 2018. However, due 
to a massive net influx of "other" investment (nearly 64 billion), asset held by 
non-residents increased by 10% year on year. The positive trend continued 
into 2019, with financial liabilities to non -residents rising to QAR 722.6 billion 
at the end of the first quarter. Thus, according to the survey, for the first time 
the total amount of fin ancial liabilities to non -residents surpassed the total at 
the end of the second quarter of 2017..."  
 
Question  
With the increasing trend of short -term investment by non -residents, does 
the relevant authority of Qatar have any surveillance mechanism in plac e with 
an aim to monitoring and mitigating a possible financial turbulence?  
 
Answer  
Deposits from non -residents are an important source of funds for the banking 
sector to provide credit for the productive sectors of the economy. Qatar 
Central Bank ensures banks have appropriate system in place to mitigate any 
withdrawal risk from such deposit considering the fact that sizable portions of 
these deposits are short -term in nature. Taking lessons from the recent past, 
the banking sector has improved its  structural liquidity by lengthening the 
maturity structure and expanding the geographical diversity of its external 
sources of funding.  
Qatar Central Bank has been adopting a proactive approach in dealing with 
these challenges. The approach includes conti nuous monitoring through 
analyzing high frequency data, moral persuasion measures, periodical 
meeting with the top executives of the banking sector etc. QCB also remain 
vigilant of the evolving developments and is fully prepared to respond with 
additional measures, as and when required.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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WT/TPR /S/408   
Para 2 .48 Page  30 What factors/objective criteria does the Council of Ministers have to take into 
consideration in order to make a decision on the approval or the prohibition 
of foreign investment?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
WT/TPR /S/408   
Para 2 .50 Page  30 In order to bring a claim to international arbitration or alternative dispute 
resolution, do foreign investors need to confer their rights based on any 
investment treaties?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
WT/TPR /S/408   
Para 2.62  Page  
32 
 As the Electronic Commerce and Transaction Law No.16 of 2010 has 
provisions that are related to information transmission and storage, e.g. e -
signature, e -document and e -authentication, is there any provision that  
discusses data localization or requires computing facilities to be located on -
shore? If yes, please provide details.  
 
Answer  
Qatar through its legislations endorses free Cross -Border Data flows 
contingent that any storing, or processing of data does not g o to violate any 
individuals' data protection rights.  
 
Law No.13 of 2016 on Personal Data Privacy Protection stipulates those rights, 
and it discusses and defines Cross -Border Data Flows as accessing, watching, 
retrieving, using, or storing Personal Data without restrictions of the State's 
borders.  
 
A provision in Article (15) mentions that a controller* shall be forbidden from 
taking any decision or measure that may limit the Cross -Border Data Flow, 
unless the processing of such data is in breach of this Law, or where such 
processing may cause serious damage to the Personal Data or to the 
Individual's privacy.  
 
*Controller: a natural or legal person who, whether acting individually or 
jointly with others, determines how Personal Data may be processed and 
determines the purpose(s) of any such processing Personal Data Processing.  
WT/TPR /S/408   
Para 4 .45 Page  46 
 "The Telecommunications Law stipulates two types of tele -communications 
licenses: individual licenses and class licenses.  
An individual license is issued by the Minister of Transport and 
Communications to a particular company for a limited period, and it applies 
only to that company. A class license is issued by the CRA and applies to a 
class of companies of a certain type, authorizing them to provide the specific 
telecommunications services as long as they adhere to the terms and 
conditions of the license . Class licenses can be amended or revoked at any 
time at the sole discretion of the CRA. To date, 10 individual licenses and 3 
class licenses have been issued, and no new licenses have been issued since 
2013. In 2018, the CRA approved the provision of Int ernet services on -board 
aircraft at all altitudes, through an amendment to the class license for the 
provision of public telecommunications services on -board aircraft."  
Please elaborate on what "the specific telecommunications services" entail.  
Please exem plify services that require an individual license and a class license.  
 
Answer  
1.Please elaborate on what "the specific telecommunications services" entail.  
• "the specific telecommunications services" are the services that are 
authorized by a class license  
and which are clearly set out in each Class License. A copy of the existing 
licenses can be found this link: https://www.cra.gov.qa/en/Regulatory -
Framework/ Licensing.  
2.Please exemplify services that require an individual license and a class 
license.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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• Examples of services that require an Individual License include public 
mobile services; public fixed services; and public satellite services. Examples 
of serv ices that require a Class License include: Resale at retail level of 
telecommunications services; of telecommunications service onboard 
aircrafts.  
WT/TPR /S/408   
Para 4.1  Page  64 As Qatar is one of the biggest oil and gas producers of the world and nowaday s 
the government around the world has supported electric vehicles (EV), does 
Qatar have any policy to support the development of the EV industry and 
market?  
 
Answer  
The Ministry of Transport and Communications has announced it is currently 
in the final stages of developing the strategy and legislation relating to electric 
vehicles in the State of Qatar, which comes as part of MOTC strategy to 
provide an integrated, world -class, multimodal transportation system that 
offers safe, reliable and eco -friendly services in line with the pillars of the 
Qatar National Vision 2030 for social, economic and environmental 
development.  
The electric vehicle strategy and legislation aim to support the country's 
agenda for a green future and to contribute to striking  an economic -
environmental balance in a way that ensures transportation sector's 
infrastructure projects sustainability, as well as to support economic growth 
and make the most out of the natural resources by increasing the revenues 
of oil and gas sectors and developing the means of transportation through 
deploying clean and alternative energy in accordance with latest universal 
eco-friendly systems to reduce carbon emissions and, therefore, create a 
clean, healthy and safe environment for generations to co me.  
As part of the plans of the strategy, public buses, government school buses 
and Doha Metro feeder buses will gradually shift to electric buses, thus 
achieving the percentage that is required to reduce harmful carbon emissions 
from buses by the year 20 30. This is expected in addition to cementing the 
concerted efforts that aim to protect environmental sustainability. Under the 
strategy, such a shift will support building an infrastructure for an integrated 
electric public transit system in the country. Several permanent depots, 
distributed in a well -considered geographical order, will be established in 
various areas across the country. They will include facilities for parking and 
charge and maintenance equipment, in addition to administration buildings 
and staff and drivers' accommodation, which will be completed during 2021.  
The strategy targets a shift in 25% of public transit fleet of buses to electric 
buses by 2022 and the use of electric buses in main services during the FIFA 
World Cup Championship 2 022 to make it the first championship to use 
electric mass transit buses.  
WT/TPR /S/408   
Para 4.90 Page  
86 
 "The Government provides several incentives to attract investors in the 
tourism sector. The QNTC's Investment Promotion Unit (IPU) plays a role in 
identifying potential investors to undertake tourism -related projects. Those 
projects may be externally presented by a third party or internally identified 
and researched alongside the Product Development Unit. Moreover, the IPU 
acts as a liaison between po tential investors and the public and private 
sectors. The incentives include tax exemptions (income tax) related to foreign 
investment projects, and exemptions from customs duties on imported 
machinery and equipment related to foreign investment projects. Qatar 
Business Incubation Centre Tourism, launched in 2016, provides tourism 
start-ups with support from the QNTC and the QDB. It enables SMEs and 
entrepreneurs to develop products and services by providing them with 
business development tools, funding, an d guidance from the QNTC"  
Suggestion:  
As healthcare has just recently become universal for the citizens and legal 
residents of Qatar, it would be beneficial and interesting for Members if 
policies and information regarding medical tourism is also portraye d in this 
report.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 76 - 
 
Answer  
Medical tourism is a minor strategic pillar for the state of Qatar – as Qatar is 
more focused on quality than quantity of medical tourism. Nevertheless, Qatar 
National Tourism Council is working with key players like Sidra to enhan ce 
Qatar's profile in this space.  
WT/TPR /G/408   
Para 3 .89 Page  48 
 "Since 2014, the E -commerce market continued to expand in Qatar with 
estimated B2C and B2B market of USD 1.2 and USD 1.4 billion respectively 
in 2015. To support the sector's development, the MoTC published in 2015 
the Qatar National E -commerce Roadmap 201 5, a national policy document 
that was subsequently updated in 2017, that serves as a policy guideline for 
the sector. Furthermore, postal services were liberalized in 2016 to improve 
the last -mile delivery  
in the E -commerce value -chain. By 2017, the cost of implementation of a 
digital payment gateway had halved with the introduction of local and reginal 
Payment Services in the local market. In the same year, the MoTC launched 
Qatar's E -commerce Information Portal to facilitate information to both 
business and consumers."  
Does Qatar have FTAs that include the issue of electronic commerce or digital 
trade? If not, does Qatar consider establishing disciplines relating to electronic 
commerce or digital trade with your FTAs partners in the future?  
 
Answer  
The S tate of Qatar is of the view of the need and importance of including e -
commerce in all free trade agreements it signs in the future. In fact, such a 
chapter has been included in the FTA signed with Turkey, which has not yet 
entered into force. Something si milar takes place at the GCC level with the 
agreements signed between the GCC countries and the EFTA countries and 
Singapore.  
 
Domestically, Law No. (16) of 2010 regulates electronic transactions and 
commerce. This is complemented by other financial regula tions from Qatar's 
other three financial regulatory bodies.  
 
Apart from the postal services, does Qatar consider liberalizing or further 
liberalizing other sectors that are related to development of electronic 
commerce, such as telecommunication, distribut ion and warehouse, logistics, 
and e -payment services?  
 
Answer  
Qatar has been working towards the liberalization of many of its sectors. Qatar 
already have two telecom providers, multiple providers for warehousing and 
distribution, and several payment servi ces. 
 
Is there are any foreign company which provides online service platforms in 
Qatar? What is the most popular online platform in Qatar? How are those 
companies regulated?  
 
Answer  
- Qatar follows the WTO moratorium on digital tariffs and thus does not 
regulate [in the economic sense] the activities of offshore foreign companies 
providing online services to Qatar. For example, Amazon Cloud Services 
(AWS) is a popular service and solution in Qatar, as the company providing 
this service is not located with in Qatar -territory, no regulations apply on the 
business.  
- As for foreign companies existing within Qatar, they can only exist in free 
trade zones, special regulations apply on these businesses depending on the 
free zone they operate in.  
- Foreign compa nies such as Amazon and e -Bay offer shipping to Qatar for 
some of their products, however they don't have distribution centers within 
the country. Regional last mile delivery companies such as Talabat/Carriage 
are operating in the country.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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  - Foreign compa nies in Qatar can register within its Qatar Free zones, also 
there are other options to register within Qatar Financial Centre and Qatar 
Science and Technology Park.  
 
- Any foreign company which provides online service platforms which are legal 
under the laws of Qatar can provide its services in Qatar. There are no 
restrictions for the residents in the state of Qatar to access digital platforms.  
- The CRA does not gather data regarding access to online platform in Qatar. 
There, it cannot provide informati on regarding popularity of online platforms.  
- The CRA has not issued any specific regulation regarding online platforms.  
 
Does Qatar have any plan to collect digital services tax?  
 
Answer  
Taxation will play an increasingly important role in the achievements of the 
goals set forth through Qatar National Vision 2030 by creating an additional 
source of non -hydrocarbon dependent income to be invested in a sustainable 
and long -term economic growth. The General Tax Authority in the State of 
Qatar was e stablished recently, and in the future, digital services tax will be 
taken into consideration as part of its natural tax base.  
WT/TPR/S/408  
Para 2.52 (b)  
Page  31 Para 2.52 (b) states that the new Civil and Commercial Arbitration Law (Law 
No. ( 2) of 2017) is largely based on the UNCITRAL model law. What are key 
differences as compared to the model law? How has Qatar's new Civil and 
Commercial Arbitration Law been received? Has there been any problems in 
terms of its application so far?  
 
Answer  
To be p rovided.  
WT/TPR/G/ 408  
Para  3.34 Page  39 Information provided in Para 3.34 indicates recent development in terms of 
dispute settlement through arbitration in Qatar, including with the 
promulgation of Law No. (2) of 2017 on Civil and Commercial Arbitration  Law 
and Law No. (1) of 2019 on Regulating Non -Qatari Capital Investment in the 
Economic Activity.  What else does Qatar have in the pipeline to facilitate the 
resolution of disputes through arbitration, including in terms of further 
legislative action?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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15  INDONESIA  
Secretariat Report  
SUMMARY  
Page 6 Para 1  
Qatar is a hydrocarbon -rich country with a small indigenous population relative to its expatriate 
community. Some 1.9 million foreign workers constitute approximately 95% of the economically 
active population. Per capita GDP amounted to USD 62,800 in 2019.  As stated in Qatar National 
Vision 2030, Qatar is pursuing economic diversification in the coming decade, seeking to build an 
economy less reliant on petroleum resources and with a larger private sector. Construction of 
infrastructure for the staging of t he FIFA World Cup 2022 was a major economic stimulus, but most 
of these projects were finalized or are about to be completed.  
Question:  
1. Although Qatar is a hydrocarbon -rich country, the government of Qatar is interested 
to expand its production to a wider  business sector to reduce the country's 
dependency on oil and gas sector. Indonesia is keen to understand in depth what 
strategies Qatar has taken or will take to achieve this objective.  
 
Answer  
Qatar is working to diversify its economy in two ways: incre asing the production base of non -oil 
products (goods and services) and expanding its diversified assets. However, these two methods 
are intertwined to achieve the goal of expanding domestic and foreign investments in economic 
activities that expand the non -hydrocarbon production base through four development programs:  
 
1. The first program is to complete the transportation and communication infrastructure, due 
to its importance in reducing the cost of production, whether for manufacturing activities or 
for the provision of service activities.  
2. The second program is to compl ete the infrastructure for financial and logistical services 
activities through the establishment of the Qatar Financial Centre to attract local and foreign 
investments to achieve this goal, which plans to expand its activities at the regional and 
global l evels. Likewise, completing the infrastructure for social services activities, 
represented mainly in education and health, by establishing the Qatar Foundation and 
Hamad Medical Corporation to attract local and foreign investments to achieve this goal, 
which plans to be a hub in providing educational and health services for interested seekers 
worldwide.  
3. The third program is to complete the infrastructure for manufacturing and logistics activities, 
whether for heavy or light industries, through the establish ment of special economic zones 
and free zones that aim to provide the necessary infrastructure for small, medium and large 
enterprises. While the free zones became ready and attracted more than 100 companies 
during 2020, most of them are foreign companies,  the special economic zones, especially 
with regard to warehousing activities and other logistical services, are also ready to attract 
investors  . 
4. The fourth program is the completion of the legislative, legal and organizational structure to 
make it conduci ve to improving the business environment to keep pace with international 
standards. During the past three years, a number of laws, regulations and financial and 
economic systems have been amended, including the investment law, which gave wide 
facilities to  foreign investors, and the labour law and immigration and residency regulations 
have been amended to enhance employee productivity and protect their legal and economic 
rights  . 
 
Page 6 Para 5  
The Qatari riyal is pegged to the US dollar. The monetary policy  implemented by the central bank is 
consequently geared to the management of short -term interbank interest rates to sustain the fixed 
parity. Except for COVID -19 relief measures, the fiscal consolidation process continues. Qatar's 
current account was in de ficit in 2016 for the first time in nearly 20 years. The surplus was 
subsequently restored, although effects of the pandemic may weaken the balance in the near term.  
Question:  
2. Like many other countries, the COVID -19 pandemics have also impacted Qatar's 
economy. As such, Qatar's balance of payment may also be affected, making the 
government to potentially run a budget deficit. Indonesia wishes to know what WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 79 - 
 
necessary measures Qatar have taken or will take to avoid negative fiscal deficit, 
either in the short and long run.  
Answer  
Fiscal policy was adjusted to in several ways to reduce the likelihood of fiscal deficits, all of which 
boiled down to reductions in the spending levels. First, payments to government suppliers were 
temporarily halted. Secondly, several important publicly financed projects that included significant 
capex were also temporarily halted. Third, the fiscal budget assumptions were revised, particularly 
the one on the price of oil, i.e. the budget was recalculated with the assu mption of a $40 per barrel 
rather than the original assumption of $55. All in all, the 2021 budget was defined to reduce fiscal 
spending by 7.5% at QR 194.7 billion.  
Page 7 Para 11 & 12  
Tasdeer, Qatar's export development agency was launched in 2011 to hel p boost non -hydrocarbon 
exports. It operates within the Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and is financed through its budget. 
The QDB provides Qatari SMEs and start -ups with a wide range of supports, including credit 
guarantee, export finance, export insurance,  direct lending, and legal advisory services.  
 
Qatar provides incentives, in the form of fiscal and financial support, to investment projects in free 
zones and to SMEs. In 2018, the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) was established as an 
independent entit y to develop and regulate free zones. Currently, Qatar has two free zones. Benefits 
to enterprises located in the zones include 20 -year corporate tax holidays, import tariff exemptions, 
potential access to an investment fund, quality infrastructure, and 10 0% ownership and full capital 
repatriation for foreign investors. In addition to free zones overseen by the QFZA, there are special 
free zones, such as the Qatar Science and Technology Park and the Qatar Financial Centre, where 
the Government provides cert ain supports to attract technology institutes and international financial 
business.  
Question:  
3. The government of Qatar provides various incentives, be they in the form of fiscal or 
financial supports, to support investment projects in free zones. Similarly , in an 
attempt to boost non -hydrocarbon exports, Qatar provides a wide range of supports, 
including credit guarantee, export finance, export insurance, direct lending, and 
advisory services through Qatar's export development agency known as Tasdeer. 
Indon esia would like to know to what extent the incentives and programme provided 
by the government of Qatar conforms with Subsidies and Countervailing Measures 
agreement.  
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
1.3 Developments in Trade and Investment  
1.3.2 Trends and pattern s in FDI  
Page 19 Para 1.20  
The stock of FDI declined by QAR 6 billion from 2017 to 2018. However, due to a massive net influx 
of "other" investment (nearly QAR 64 billion), assets held by non -residents increased by 10% year 
on year. The positive trend continued into 2019, with financial liabilities to non -residents rising to 
QAR 722.6 billion at the end of the first quarter. Thus, according to the survey, for the first time the 
total amount of financial liabilities to non -residents surpassed the total a t the end of the second 
quarter of 2017. At that time, the diplomatic rift with Qatar's neighbours had caused a significant 
reduction in deposits and other short -term investments by foreigners of more than QAR 60 billion. 
However, the reversal of these fin ancial flows began in early 2018.  
Question:  
4. Qatar witnessed a substantial number of FDI influx in the past decade. However, as 
the 90% of the inward FDI largely dispatches to the oil and gas sector, Indonesia 
would like to know the government of Qatar plans to increase FDI in other business 
sectors, so that the FDI can proportionately cover other business sectors.  
 
Answer  
The State of Qatar is working to diversify its economy in two ways, increasing the production base 
of non -oil products (goods and ser vices) and expanding its diversified assets. However, these two WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 80 - 
 
methods are intertwined to achieve the goal of expanding domestic and foreign investments in 
economic activities that expand the non -hydrocarbon production base through four development 
progra ms:  
The first program is to complete the transportation and communication infrastructure, due to its 
importance in reducing the cost of production, whether for manufacturing activities or for the 
provision of service activities.  
The second program is to complete the infrastructure for financial and logistical services activities 
through the establishment of the Qatar Financial Center to attract local and foreign investments to 
achieve this goal, which plans to expand its activities at the regional and glo bal levels.  Likewise, 
completing the infrastructure for social services activities, represented mainly in education and 
health, by establishing the Qatar Foundation and Hamad Medical Corporation to attract local and 
foreign investments to achieve this goal , which plans to be a hub in providing educational and health 
services for interested seekers worldwide.  
The third program is to complete the infrastructure for manufacturing and logistics activities, 
whether for heavy or light industries, through the esta blishment of special economic zones and free 
zones that aim to provide the necessary infrastructure for small, medium and large enterprises. 
While the free zones became ready and attracted more than 100 companies during 2020, most of 
them are foreign compa nies, the special economic zones, especially with regard to warehousing 
activities and other logistical services, are also ready to attract investors  . 
The fourth program is the completion of the legislative, legal and organizational structure to make 
it conducive to improving the business environment to keep pace with international standards. 
During the past three years, a number of laws, regulations and financial and economic systems have 
been amended, including the investment law, which gave wide faciliti es to foreign investors, and the 
labor law and immigration and residency regulations have been amended to enhance employee 
productivity and protect their legal and economic rights  . 
 
2.3.2 Regional and preferential agreements  
2.3.2.1 Regional trade agreeme nts  
2.3.2.1.2 RTAs signed by the GCC  
Page 28 Para 2.35  
As a member of the GCC, Qatar is a signatory to the GCC's RTAs with third parties. The GCC -
Singapore Free Trade and Economic Integration Agreement (GCC -Singapore RTA) was signed on 15 
December 2008. I t entered into force on 1 September 2013, with the end of the implementation 
period in 2018. It was notified to the WTO in 2015.24 This Agreement provides for the liberalization 
of trade in goods and services, and covers areas including customs procedures,  government 
procurement, cooperation, and dispute settlement. In 2019, 1% of Qatar's imports came from 
Singapore, and 7.6% of its exports went to Singapore. Qatar imports mainly jewellery, mineral fuels, 
aircrafts and parts, and electrical machinery and pa rts. It exports mainly mineral fuels (88%), as 
well as organic chemicals, iron and steel, fertilizers, and salt.  
Question:  
5. How do you evaluate of the realization of the current cooperation under the current 
Memorandum of Understanding on Consultation Mech anism between Government of 
Indonesia and the GCC Secretariat as well as the current Joint Plan of Action 
between both countries?  
6. In the opinion of the Government of Qatar, what must both parties do to optimally 
make use of the said cooperation framework?  What can we do differently in the 
future to speed up the making of RTA between GCC -Indonesia?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
2.4 Investment Regime  
2.4.4 E -commerce  
Page 33 Para 2.64  
In 2015, e -commerce uptake was low: the percentage of people shopping online was 14% of the 
total population, and only 7% of SMEs placed online orders. Against this backdrop, the MOTC 
launched the Qatar National E -Commerce Roadmap, which was updated in 201 7 as a policy 
guidance.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Question:  
7. The government of Qatar has introduced various policies to improve e -commerce 
uptake. As a country who is also enthusiastic to increase e -commerce adoption, 
Indonesia would like to know what strategies Qatar has implement ed or intend to 
implement to improve e -commerce adoption, especially among Qatari Small and 
Medium Enterprises.  
Answer  
Qatar's strategy is to increase presence of online retail businesses through three main areas,  
-by establishing a legal framework with th e proper regulations that enable and facilitate conduct of 
business,  
-by setting guidelines for eCommerce's to follow, and ensuring consumer protection through criteria -
compliance on businesses  
-by encouraging digital payment adoption.  
 
In the last few years, Qatar's eCommerce approach has been focused on increasing eCommerce 
penetration and through consumer protection. Qatar has thought of eCommerce adoption as 
adoption by both merchant and consumer. As a consumer protection initiative, a Theqa Trustmark 
was launched, encouraging businesses to adopt best eCommerce practices, improving their 
standards and ensuring customers' online protection.  
There had also been a portal launched online to provide local businesses with all the tools, res ources, 
and information to start an eCommerce business, along with volumes on guidelines to set up an 
eCommerce. Qatar is currently working on making this information more visual by soon -publishing 
video guidelines for eCommerce's to get started.  
Qatar ha d also had interactive live public workshops and sessions as part of its Digital Transformation 
initiative, which cover cloud computing, web services, and basic eCommerce. This program already 
held 62 sessions in the last 3 Years targeting eCommerce SMEs.  
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1 Measures Directly Affecting Imports  
3.1.3 Tariffs  
3.1.3.2 Preferential tariffs  
Page 40 Para 3.25  
As a member of the GCC, Qatar grants preferences on a reciprocal basis to EFTA States and 
Singapore (Section 2.3 .2). These two FTAs led to a substantial liberalization of Qatar's tariff regime. 
Under them, over 80% of all tariff lines (excluding applied MFN duty -free) are eligible for duty -free 
treatment; as a result, duty -free treatment covers over 95% of tariff li nes (Chart 3.3). The main 
exceptions from preferential tariffs are meat (HS 02), dairy (HS 04), and tobacco (HS 24) in both 
FTAs; organic chemicals (HS 29) in the FTA with the EFTA; and fish (HS 03) and preparations of 
meat and fish (HS 16) in the FTA with  Singapore. The simple average tariff rate for FTA partners is 
less than 1%. At a disaggregated level, the average rates for agricultural products (WTO definition) 
under FTAs are lower than the average MFN tariff rates. On the other hand, tariffs on non -agricultural 
products (WTO definition) are nearly all zero.  
Question:  
8. We recognize that Qatar is one of the members of GCC. However, Saudi Arabia 
increased its customs duties for 575 tariff lines from 20 June 2020. To what extent 
this policy affects the implementation of GCC Common External Tariff (CET)?  
 
Answer  
These do not affect the implementation of the common customs tariff, because the Gulf Cooperation 
Council member countries have different tariff ceilings with the WTO. Thus, when the customs duties 
are raised by a single member, they do not necessarily imply a violation of the ceiling specified by 
the GCC.  
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 82 - 
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1 Measures Directly Affecting Imports  
3.1.5 Import prohibitions, restrictions, and lic ensing  
Page 44 Para 3.33  
Import prohibitions are limited to live swine, ivory, nutmeg, narcotic substances, retreaded tyres, 
and asbestos and goods containing asbestos. The GAC controls the importation of pork products, 
kola nuts, alcoholic beverages, and food items containing alcohol. Most other imports subject to 
control fall under the authority of the Ports Health and Food Control Section of the Ministry of Public 
Health (MOPH), and sometimes the measures are administered jointly with the Department of 
Agriculture Affairs and Fisheries of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME). According 
to the authorities, most of these goods are not imported except as approved by the General 
Secretariat of the Council of Ministers in coordination with the GA C.  
Question:  
9. We would like to seek clarification on whether the Government of Qatar prohibit the 
importation of nutmeg? If so, please explain the rationale behind such policy? If not, 
what are the requirements to export nutmeg into Qatar?  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.3 Measures Affecting Production and Trade  
3.3.2 Standards and other technical requirements  
Page 49 -53 Para 3.55 -3.68 
Question:  
10. With regards to the technical regulations on the import of animal products, the 
Government of Indonesia would like to seek further assistance and guidance from the 
Government of Qatar.  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
11. Also, the Indonesian Government would like to have an insight on how the 
Government of Qatar manages the Halal product certification whether Qatar does 
halal certification mechanism for Small -Medium -Enterprises (SMEs).  
 
Answer  
To be provided.  
 
  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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16  THE PHILI PPINES  
PART I: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT  
I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
Para 1.1 (Page 10)  
Qatar is a Gulf country rich in petroleum resources, particularly of natural gas, with a population 
totalling 2.8 million. The population grew rapidly until 2017, due to a steady influx of foreign 
workers. The indigenous population is relatively small comp ared with the expatriate community. 
In 2019, the nearly 108,000 employed Qataris constituted just over 5% of the economically active 
population (Chart 1.1). As the expatriate workforce is predominantly male, the female 
participation rate in the job market is low (less than 14%). However, the ratio is much higher 
within the Qatari population and on a rising trend (36.6% in 2019). GDP per capita declined in 
the review period, but nevertheless amounted to USD 62,800 in 2019.  
 
Question:  
1. Considering the large population of foreign workers in Qatar, what is the contribution of 
remittances to annual outflows? What is Qatar 's regime on money remittances, and how 
are the service operators being regulated? What are the policies on the establishment and 
operati ons of remittance service companies?  
Answer  
The expatriate workers in Qatar constitute over 94% of the economically active population, based 
on data released by Planning and Statistics Authority as the end of the Second quarter of 2020 in 
their labour for ce surveys.  Further, the total outgoing remittances of expatriate workers to their 
countries of origin in 2019 reached about QR43bn, equivalent to US$11.8bn, which constitutes 
about 12.0% of the Qatar 's current account outflows in 2019. Remittances service s are provided 
by banks and exchange houses, with both entities licensed under Qatar Central Bank.  Guidelines 
for this type of activities include a minimum paid up capital of 50,000,000 QAR for exchange 
houses and 1,000,000,000 QAR for banks along with oth er regulations in relation to AML -CFT 
policies.  
II. TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
Box 1.1 Qatar Investment Authority (Page 11)  
The Government exercises ownership through the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and 
Investment, which assigns state reserve funds for the QIA to develop, invest, and manage. The 
QIA is mandated to invest, diversify, and grow the State's sovereign reserves to create value for 
future generations. The fund supports the economy by investing in local companies, and it 
provides liqui dity to the State when needed. The QIA is a founding member of the International 
Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds and a co -author of the Generally Accepted Principles and 
Practices set out by this group – more widely known as the Santiago Principles. The QI A reviews 
its activities and procedures regularly in light of these principles. According to the authorities, the 
QIA is a professional and sophisticated investment organization, capable of attracting top talent 
both locally and globally. In 2015, a subsid iary, the Qatar Investment Authority Advisory (USA), 
was established in New York to focus on potential investments in North America. In 2017, the QIA 
became a founding member of the One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund Initiative, which integrates 
climate chan ge considerations into financial decision -making. The One Planet Sovereign Wealth 
Fund Framework, which the QIA helped draft, was published in July 2018. The Framework is the 
first ever set of guidelines for the sovereign wealth industry to help deliver on  finance -related 
climate goals. The QIA invests across asset classes, sectors, and geographies in order to diversify 
the Qatari economy away from hydrocarbon dependency. In 2020, the QIA remained focused on 
generating sustainable returns to create better j obs, environments, and opportunities for future 
generations.  
 
Question:  
2. Please provide information on investments made by QIA (sectors/areas and in which 
countries) to grow its sovereign wealth fund? Please discuss and provide concrete 
examples on how the One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund Framework can help deliver 
finance -related climate goals.  What other measures are being taken to reduce or gradually 
wean Qatar 's economy from hydrocarbon dependency?  
 
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 84 - 
 
Answer  
(a) Investments made by QIA:  
 
As a sovere ign wealth fund, QIA 's purpose is to create better jobs, environments and opportunities 
through long term, strategic investment. In 2021, the world economy needs to build towards a 
sustainable recovery from COVID -19. QIA is funding innovation and remains an active investor 
across geographies and asset classes. For example: healthcare provides a unique opportunity for 
QIA to earn attractive returns and positively impact future generations. During 2020 QIA invested 
in Germany 's CureVac which is devel oping its own Covid -19 vaccine.  
 
(b) Concrete Examples on OPSWF delivering finance -related climate goals:  
Members of the One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund (OPSWF) initiative are increasingly integrating 
the consideration of climate change -related risks and  opportunities into investment decisions to 
improve the resilience of long -term investment portfolios.  In early 2020, QIA 's Chief Executive 
Officer Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al -Mahmoud announced that the fund would cease investment in 
coal, and that it would not  expand holdings of oil and gas. The work of the OPSWF initiative 
supports the development of meaningful internationally consistent environmental disclosure.  
In November, 2020 QIA, in alignment with the principles of the One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund 
Framework, pledged its support for the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate -Related 
Financial Disclosures (TCFD). TCFD is a global standard for climate - related financial risk reporting.  
(For more information, please see The One Planet Sovereign Weal th Fund Framework at: 
https://oneplanetswfs.org/wp -
content/pdfjs/web/viewer.html?file=https ://oneplanetswfs.org/download/23/online -
publication/550/oneplanetswf_online.pdf  and the Framework Companion Document at: 
https://oneplanetswfs.org/wp -
content/pdfjs/web/viewer.html?file=https://oneplanetswfs.org/download/23/online -
publication/1008/1_20201120 -opswf -companion -document -2020.pdf ) 
 
(c) Measures taken to reduce Qa tar's economy from hydrocarbon dependency:  
The overall framework currently guiding Qatar 's economic policy is the Qatar National Vision 2030.  
Delivery of the QNV 2030 's goals is achieved through a series of medium -term strategic plans, 
known as the Nationa l Development Strategies. The latest plan aims to shift growth towards 
tradeable sectors of the economy and laying the groundwork for the creation of a knowledge 
economy.  In line with these goals, QIA works to prepare for a time beyond the hydrocarbon era 
by investing in projects both domestically and internationally to help diversify the country 's 
revenue base.  
 
Para 2.17 (Page 23 ) 
 
Qatar's trade policy is formulated within the broader framework of the Qatar National Vision 2030, 
which is a roadmap towards  becoming an advanced society capable of sustainable development 
by 2030.14 Its Second National Development Strategy (NDS -2) 2018 -2022 aims at sustaining 
economic prosperity through economic diversification, infrastructure and private -sector 
development, a nd natural resources management (Section 1.1). The NDS -2 set targets to 
diversify production through increasing public investment in infrastructure, promoting private 
investment, establishing industrial and service zones, and supporting the development of small 
and medium - sized enterprises (SMEs).  
 
Question:  
3. What are the significant accomplishments that were achieved under the NDS -2, 
specifically in promoting private investment and development of SMEs? What were the 
challenges faced in implementing the NDS -2? 
 
Answer  
Qatar is of the view that economic diversification can unfold in one of two paths: either expanding 
the production base or diversifying assets, including natural, capital and human resources, and 
institutional management.  Qatar has made tangible achievements in terms of developing the 
capital resources needed for increasing the country 's capacity for internal and external 
connectivity, including communications, transportation infrastructures (port, airport, metro, rail, 
road networks).  It also diversified the financial systems of banks, stocks, and insurance, and 
expanded educational and health institutions to develop human capital.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Tangible achievements were detected in institutional management to improve the business 
climate , including the issuance of the Public -Private Partnership Law, amendments to laws to allow 
non-Qataris the right to own and usufruct real estate as well as those related to the labour market, 
including raising the minimum wage.   
 
These aforementioned incentives have made Qatar an attractive pole for investors.  However, 
manufacturing industries producing durable or capital goods have been very limited while there 
has been significant progress in the production of fast -moving consumer good s. Among the 
biggest challenges facing investors are the limited local market and the cost of importing qualified 
workers, which raises the cost of production and makes it uncompetitive in the international 
market.  
 
To overcome these challenges Qatar is wo rking in three directions:  
1. TAWTEEN to provide the private sector and SME with the opportunity to supply the Qatar 
energy sector with procurement needs domestically and internationally.   
2. TASDEER to support Qatar -based SMEs to develop their export capabiliti es. 
3. Qatar is also in the process to establish a strong trade relationship with markets in Africa 
and Asia and investment protection ties with several countries including China, Finland, 
France, India, Germany, and Switzerland.  
 
Para 2.24 (p. 26)  
 
Bilateral ly, Qatar does not have any free trade agreements.  
 
Question:  
4. As clarified in a footnote to Para 2.24, Qatar has a significant number of bilateral economic 
cooperation agreements providing for preferential treatment, in lieu of FTAs. What are 
Qatar 's cons iderations in forming economic cooperation partnerships with countries 
outside the Pan -Arab area? Further, what factors have precluded Qatar from forming free 
trade agreements with any of its trading partners?  
 
Answer  
Qatar 's economic cooperation agreements are a framework agreement in the field of Economic, 
commercial and technical cooperation to discuss projects with mutual benefits.  As these 
agreements have so far worked well for Qatar, the authorities have not been compelled to deve lop 
other legal instruments to substitute them.  
 
Para 2.27 (Page 26)  
On 5 January 2021, during a GCC Summit, GCC members signed an agreement to end the 
blockade against Qatar.  
 
Question:  
5. What were the reasons of GCC members for ending the blockade again st Qatar?  
Answer  
Qatar, which is an active member of the GCC, continues to enjoy and develop brotherly bonds 
with its regional neighbours through open international and trade channels, amongst other things.  
 
Para 2.24 (Page 27)  
 
Bilaterally, Qatar does not  have any free trade agreements.  
 
Question:  
6. Does Qatar have immediate plans to pursue FTAs with its economic partners, noting that 
its authorities view its bilateral economic cooperation agreements to operate in a de facto 
similar manner with FTAs? If so,  what are its key considerations?  
 
Answer  
Qatar and other GCC members are planning to resume negotiations on potential FTA with a 
number of their major trading partners.  It already has and FTA with Singapore, EFTA, through the 
GCC. 
 WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 86 - 
 
Para 2.35 (Page 28)  
 
As a member of the GCC, Qatar is a signatory to the GCC's RTAs with third parties. The GCC -
Singapore Free Trade and Economic Integration Agreement (GCC -Singapore RTA) was signed on 
15 December 2008. It entered into force on 1 September 2013, with the end o f the 
implementation period in 2018. It was notified to the WTO in 2015. This Agreement provides for 
the liberalization of trade in goods and services, and covers areas including customs procedures, 
government procurement, cooperation, and dispute settleme nt. In 2019, 1% of Qatar's imports 
came from Singapore, and 7.6% of its exports went to Singapore. Qatar imports mainly jewellery, 
mineral fuels, aircrafts and parts, and electrical machinery and parts. It exports mainly mineral 
fuels (88%), as well as org anic chemicals, iron and steel, fertilizers, and salt.  
 
Question:  
7. Does the GCC have plans to negotiate for RTAs with other ASEAN member -states or other 
countries in the near future? How has Qatar benefited from its existing GCC FTAs?  
 
Answer  
Yes. There i s an initiative for the GCC to conduct FTAs with other ASEAN member states.  Qatar 
has so far benefited from its existing GCC -level FTAs.  
 
Para 2.51 (Page 30)  
 
Another important measure to promote FDI was the establishment of the Investment Promotion 
Agency  (IPA) on 7 July 2019. The IPA aims to be a single and complete source for investment 
solutions to attract FDI in the country's priority sectors (tourism, advanced manufacturing 
(including chemicals and electronics), infrastructure, agriculture, and techno logy development. It 
intends to pursue a targeted and sector -specific investment promotion agenda, and it is 
responsible for coordinating investment promotion and marketing activities with key stakeholders 
and providing advice on the policy formulation pro cess. The IPA's Advisory Board is chaired by 
the Minister of the MOCI, and includes the Minister of Finance, the Ministerial Group for the 
Promotion of the Private Sector, the Chairman of the Qatar Free Zones Authority, and 
representatives of the Prime Min ister's Office, the Qatar Financial Centre, and the Qatar Science 
and Technology Park.  
 
Question:  
8. What are IPA 's key programs and activities pursued/implemented in 2021, and how were 
the abovementioned sectors identified as priority areas for investment p romotion?  
 
Answer  
As part of its 2021 annual planning, the IPA has defined a number of objectives across each of its 
4 core functions, namely (i) marketing & communications, (ii) investor & stakeholder relations, 
(iii) strategy & incentives and (iv) econom ic research & policy advocacy. A number of activities 
and programs and initiatives were accordingly identified and planned to contribute to such 
objectives. The key programs and activities include but are not limited to the following:  
• Image building (opera tions): finalize the marketing and communications strategy, and 
execute targeted campaigns and events to raise awareness about the Invest Qatar brand 
and the profile of Qatar as an investment destination  
• Website (tools): upgrade current website to a world class dynamic website that include 
an investment connection platform to facilitate partnerships between foreign and local 
companies, and access to market information and investment opportunities  
• Councils (governance): formalize the establishment and activation of the (i) Marketing 
Council and the (ii) Business Development Council to respectively coordinate promotional 
(branding, marketing, communication) and investor targeting and attraction efforts 
among key stakeholders  
• Research and policy advocacy (function): build out the economic research and policy 
advocacy department (incl. strategy, agenda and capabilities), produce high -quality 
research and policy papers to support promotion and business development efforts  
 
The IPA, together with the remainin g Business Development Council members (MoCI, QFC, 
QFZA,and QSTP), has finalized the development of the BD Council investors attraction strategy in 
December 2020.  As a result of this exercise, the IPA has refined a more specific and 
comprehensive list of 1 0 target segments as per below:  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 87 - 
 
- Advanced manufacturing, technology & ICT, artificial intelligence  
- Oil and gas services, professional services  
- IT & Digital infrastructure, sports & media, health  
- Tourism, hospitality & entertainment, culture  
- FinTech, asset m anagers, banks  
- Logistics  
- Core resilience themes e.g. food security  
- PPP (Operator and EPC), government tenders, infrastructure and national projects 
(funding), capital markets  
- National strategic projects, sectoral clusters  
 
The methodology used to define an d prioritize the above segments is based on the following 
elements:  
- Segments classified according to the ISIC level -2 standards (in use by the government)  
- Segments linked to the priority clusters set in the national Economic Diversification and 
Fiscal Stab ility plan (top -down approach)  
- Segments also linked to priority sectors set in each of the BD Council members ' respective 
strategy (bottom -up approach)  
- Segments mapped to ongoing/planned national programs (e.g. Tasmu)  
- Segments evaluated and assessed in terms of their potential contribution to the BD 
Council investors attraction 's FDI metrics: FDI inflows, FDI stock, number of foreign 
companies, number of high -skilled jobs, and economic contribution  
 
Para 2.61 -2.62 (Page 32 -33)  
The e-commerce market continued to expand: in 2015, the business -to- consumer (B2C) market 
value was USD 1.2 billion, which the Government expected to double to USD 2.4 billion in 2020.34 
Airline tickets and consumer electronics were the dominant B2C segments,  accounting for about 
40% of the B2C market. The business -to-business (B2B) market was valued at USD 1.43 billion 
in 2015, and was expected to grow to USD 2.3 billion in 2020.  
The legislative framework on e -commerce is based mainly on the following:  
1. The Electronic Commerce and Transactions Law No. 16 of 2010, which contains provisions 
on e-signatures, e -documents, and authentication. It specifies the terms and conditions 
for transmission and storage of information and outlines the measures for consumer 
protection against e - commerce -related crimes and associated penalties.  
2. The Anti -Cybercrime Law No. 14 of 2014, which outlines various types of cybercrimes and 
fraud, and the procedures and penalties to deal with cybercrimes.  
3. The Personal Data Privacy Prot ection Law No. 13 of 2016, which defines personal 
information and examines the rights of individuals with regard to their personal data. It 
contains provisions on the protection of personal data, obligations for data controllers and 
processors, and penalti es related to disclosure of financial or non -financial data without 
customers ' consent.  
Questions:  
9. Please share details on best practices on trade measures related to e -commerce.  
Answer  
Qatar has been participating as part of the WTO Joint Statement Init iative (JSI) negotiations on 
electronic commerce.  
 
Questions:  
10. Please share data/information on the impact of the legislative framework in promoting 
the use of e -commerce in Qatar.  
Answer  
• The Legislative Framework has been effective in enabling digital/e -commerce and ensure 
protection for consumers in online eCommerce transaction.  Based on The Electronic Commerce 
and Transactions Law No. 16 of 2010, MOTC launched Qatar e -commerce Guidelines for 
businesses and Theqa as Trust Mark for the local businesses t hat follow the guidelines to increase 
the maturity of Qatar's e -commerce business and consumer's Trust in them.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 88 - 
 
• As an evident of its effectiveness, MOTC e -commerce survey in March 2019 showed that 
the penetration rate for e -commerce in Qatar in 2019 mor e than doubled over 2018 (37% in 2019 
versus 15% in 2018). In addition, the same survey showed major shifts from 2018 to 2019 in 
terms of consumer preference for mobile app/site shopping over desktop shopping.  
• Moreover, a formal study of the effectivene ss and impact of the legislative framework will 
be measured as part of the initiative by MOTC which will review and draft an updated e -commerce 
policy for the country.  
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
Para 3.18 (Page 37)  
Tariffs applied on agricultural products (WTO definition) remain higher than on non - agricultural 
goods. In 2020, the average applied tariff rate on agricultural products is 7.7%, while that on 
non-agricultural products is 4.6% (Table 3.2). Within agricult ure, beverages, spirits, and tobacco 
(33.7%) and coffee, tea, and cocoa and cocoa preparations (8.3%) are the product groups with 
higher average import duties. Most non -agriculture product groups are subject to zero or 5% 
tariffs (99.7% of all non -agricult ural tariff lines), and the remainder are prohibited items (e.g. 
asbestos, used tyres). Some agricultural product groups – such as coffee, tea, and cocoa and 
cocoa preparations; fruits, vegetables, and plants; sprits, beverages, and tobacco; and sugar and 
confectionery – display higher standard deviations, implying a larger tariff range within these 
product groups.  
 
Question:  
11. Given the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic and its economic consequences, what tariff 
measures are in place to assist recovery of both the  agricultural and non -agricultural 
sectors?  
Answer  
A temporary six -month exemption on tariff duties on health and food products was put in place.  
Other than that, several measures were taken to facilitate all procedures and speed up and 
prioritize the comp letion of agricultural and food shipments.  
 
Para 3.26 (p. 41)  
 
Qatar implemented a temporary exemption of customs duties on food and medical goods for nine 
months in 2020 in response to the COVID -19 pandemic.  
 
Question:  
12. Please describe any new trade policies implemented to provide greater predictability and 
certainty on the availability of key supplies in international markets to support the 
management of economic response in case of future pandemics or other similar scenarios.  
 
Answer  
At the moment, there is no public policy developed to provide greater predictability and 
transparency on the supply of key goods and services for the management of future pandemics.  
That said, Qatar has been fully transparent regarding what it has done in the cas e of the Covid -
19 pandemic.  Please see sections 2.4 and 3.2 of the government report for a description of the 
government 's response to the pandemic and the trade related measures put in place respectively.  
Para 3.36 (Page 44)  
The 2010 amendments created c ommon institutions to deal with trade remedy issues including a 
Ministerial Committee, a Permanent Committee, and the Office of the Technical Secretariat to 
combat harmful practices in international trade (GCC - TSAIP). The Permanent Committee decides 
wheth er an investigation should be initiated based on a preliminary report from the GCC -TSAIP. 
Should a formal investigation be warranted, the GCC -TSAIP will conduct it and present its findings, 
including recommendations on measures that could be taken, to the Permanent Committee, which 
takes the final decision.  
Question:  
13. Based on the foregoing, it appears that a single investigating authority (GCC - TSAIP) 
handles both the preliminary and final determinations in trade remedy investigations. 
Were there instance s wherein affirmative preliminary findings are overturned in the final 
determination?  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 89 - 
 
Answer  
The trade remedy decision is taken collectively by GCC through the GCC (TSAIP) and the final 
decision is applied according through each state 's internal process.  
 
Para 3.47 (Page 46)  
 
Qatari free zones offer a variety of incentives to attract foreign investment. The main legislation 
includes Law No. 34 of 2005, as amended by Decree Law No. 21 of 2017, and the 2018 Free 
Zones Authority Licensing Regulations. In 2018,  the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) was 
established as an independent entity to develop and regulate free zones. The QFZA provides a 
one-stop shop for the entire set -up process; it offers services (e.g. infrastructure, offices, and 
facilities), as well as issues licenses and approvals for entities that wish to carry out economic 
activities in and from the free zone.  
 
Question:  
14. Following the relatively recent establishment of QFZA, what were the main challenges it 
faced in attracting foreign investment in free zones, and how were these managed? Does 
QFZA also have jurisdiction over special economic zones? What are the key considerations 
in developing further special economic zones in accordance with Qatar National Vision 
2030?  
Answer  
QFZA  considered value creation and soft -landing as the main challenges for targeted foreign 
investors, and developed a regulatory framework of one -stop-shop that covers most of the 
business -related government services that include:  
• Automatic eligibility to exemptio n from corporate income tax,  
• Company establishment with fully liberal ownership rules,  
• Employment and immigration matters,  
• Building permits,  
• Health, safety and environment related permits, and  
• Dispute resolution mechanism.  
 
No further special economic zo nes are foreseen at the moment.  
Para 3.50 (Page 47)  
 
The QSTP, part of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, is 
Qatar's premier hub for applied research, technology development, innovation, and 
entrepreneurship. The QSTP op erates a free zone that allows for up to 100% foreign ownership, 
and offers incentives including exemptions from all taxes including corporate income tax, 
unrestricted movement of capital and profits, and no import duties. Additionally, the QSTP offers 
support programmes for SMEs and start -ups including capacity -building programmes and funding 
programmes such as the Product Development Fund (PDF). The PDF is a cost -sharing fund where 
the QSTP provides up to 50% of the total budget as a grant to facilitate l ocal start -ups and SMEs 
to develop products and services relevant to local market needs. The programme has awarded 
grants to 28 SMEs since its launch in 2016. In this regard, Qatar stated that the Qatar Foundation 
and the QSTP were not government entities and any support they offer was not a subsidy within 
the meaning of Article 1 of the SCM Agreement.  
 
Question:  
15. What are the criteria for the selection of start -ups which received/can receive grants from 
QSTP?  
 
Answer  
The criteria for the selection of start -ups which received/can receive grants from QSTP is listed 
on QSTP 's website: https://qstp.org.qa/product -development -fund/ . These are:  
 
1) Eligibility:  
❑ Local SME or startup in the private sector, with at least 20% Qatari share ownership 
(individual or organization) and their active involvement in the d evelopment process (an 
SME is up to 249 employees and not listed on the stock exchange)  
❑ Must be a private sector SME, spinout, or startup  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 90 - 
 
❑ Engaged in the development of new products/services or processes relevant to local 
market needs  
❑ Willing to accelerate development of existing products by adding new features and to 
differentiate your product from the other competitors in the marketplace.  
❑ Focus on one of our priority sectors: Energy, Environment, Healthcare, or ICT  
 
2) Criteria for selection and selection  committee:  
 
 
 
Para 3.71 (Page 53)  
 
The Ports Health and Food Control Section of the MOPH's Food Safety Department has the 
authority to inspect, monitor, and control imported food. The Section is responsible for: (i) 
checking required documents, such as health and Halal certificates issued by the competent and 
approved authority in the country of origin; (ii) preventing entry of contaminated food; (iii) dealing 
with rejected consignments (i.e. destruction or re -export); (iv) performing physical inspection  and 
sampling of imported foods; and (v) providing food importers with guidance on procedures, 
specifications, and standards. The Livestock Department of the MME is responsible for issuing a 
veterinary health certificate for animals and inspecting live ani mals and plants, animal feed, and 
horticultural products at the entry port.  
 
Question:  
16. Can you provide information on Qatar 's laws/regulations related to Halal export, import 
and investments? What is the process for exporting products which are considered non -
Halal?  
 
Answer  
There are several important points to be noted:  
 
1. An Original Halal Slaughtering Certificate is required for meat and poultry and a Halal 
certificate for food items that contain ingredients of animal origin.  
2. A Halal and Halal Slaughtering Certificate must be issued by the Approved Halal Association in 
Qatar at the Country of origin and Exporting country (avai lable on the website of MOPH; see 
the link below)  
3. A Halal and a Halal Slaughtering Certificate must be related to the shipment, including Halal 
attestations (see importer 's guide in the following link which includes Halal and Halal 
Slaughtering Certificate  templates: 
https://www.moph.gov.qa/english/derpartments/healthaffairs/foodsafety/portshealthnfoodco
ntrol/Pages/default.aspx ) 
4. MOPH is not responsible for oversight of non -halal Food  
 
 
WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Para 3.116 (Page 62)  
In accordance with this Law, trade names and GIs are protected, even if they are not registered. 
Persons residing in a place particularly renowned for the production of certain goods may prevent 
those trading in similar goods from another place, or from pl acing their mark on them, to prevent 
confusion. Natural or legal persons concerned may apply for the registration of a GI to protect the 
origin of a particular commodity. Acceptance of the registration will not result in any exclusive 
right to the applican t, as any person engaging in related activities in that geographical origin may 
use the GI.  
Question:  
17. What is the advantage of registering GIs  if they are protected even without the 
registration ?  
Answer  
The rules regarding GIs are not yet fully enforced in Qatar.  The authorities expect these to be in 
place in the near future.  
 
Para 3.123 (Page 63)  
According to information provided by the IPRPD, since 2014, there have been 200 complaints 
related to IPR infringements, and 32 seizures for copyright infringements and 18 for trademarks, 
among others. From 2014 to 2020, the IPRPD issued 34 warnings, and t ransmitted 125 lawsuits 
to courts. The General Administration of Criminal Investigation for the Jurisdiction, in the 
Department of Economic and Electronic Crime Prevention, under the Ministry of Interior, is in 
charge of conducting investigations. Investig ation reports are then transmitted to the Public 
Prosecutor, who refers the complainant to trial. The authorities state that in 2019, 436 inspection 
campaigns were organized (429 on trademarks and 7 on copyrights), and irregularities were found 
in 190 trad emarks and 7 copyrights.  
 
Question:  
18. How are online IP infringements handled,  particularly those committed in websites outside 
of the territory of Qatar ? 
Answer  
The IPR Protection Department of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry uses available 
informati on to get to the infringing parties. If such methods fail, the IPRPD seeks the assistance 
of the Department of Economic and Electronic Crime Prevention (of the Ministry of Interior) to 
discover the identity of the infringing parties. While infringements ou tside Qatar are rare, it is 
possible in this regard to seek the assistance of the Public Prosecution and the international judicial 
assistance provisions of the law.   
Para 4.14 (p. 67)  
 
The Qatar National Vision 2030, which is aimed at sustaining economic prosperity, outlines the 
long-term economic goals of the country. To achieve these goals, the Second National 
Development Strategy (NDS -2) 2018 -2022 identified national priorities based on detailed sectoral 
strategies. In particular, the authoriti es state that the Smart Qatar Program (TASMU) focuses on 
five priority sectors (transport, logistics, environment, healthcare, and sports), and aims to drive 
economic diversification through a national digital transformation. Efforts made during the review  
period include the development of e -commerce (Section 2.4.4) and the accompanying e -payment 
system (Section 4.2.1), and courier services (Section 4.2.2.2).  
 
Question:  
19. How did the COVID -19 pandemic alter or affect the identified national priorities, 
specifically, the five priority sectors – i.e. transport, logistics, environment, healthcare, 
and sports? Further, what specific strategies, measures, and/or policy support programs 
for priority sectors and industries did Qatar implement to mit igate the impact of the 
COVID -19 pandemic, as well as to guarantee the sustainability of these industries for 
long-term recovery?  
 
Answer  
As it is known, the COVID pandemic and the subsequent measures to contain it disrupted the 
work of ministries and gove rnment agencies including transport, logistics, environment, WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 92 - 
 
healthcare, and sports, a s well as closing many activities of the public and private sectors.  This, 
as can be expected, continuous to significantly affect people's economic and social lives, both  
directly and indirectly.  The main impact can be summarized as follows:  
• Decline in demand for goods and services, which affected the course of economic and social 
activities  
• Global supply chain disruption and internal transportation disrupted, slowing down  business.  
• Close many social business activities, including medical appointments, except for emergency 
cases  
• Expanding the use of local and international telecommunications technologies for the purpose 
of carrying out public and private work and economic a nd social communication  
• Laying off some workers and increasing the percentage of the unemployed  
• While state revenues decreased, the expenditure increased to assist the public and private 
sectors, which increased the public deficit  
• Allocating all medical services in both the private and public sectors to treat Covid -19 patients  
• After the closure of educational and religious institutions, including schools, mosques, 
institutes and universities, the government enforced distance education, social dist ancing, and 
specific study subjects and days for students to attend school.  
These outcomes changed the way normal activities used to unfold, forcing government institutions 
and the private sector to resort to telework.  
 
Like other countries, Qatar 's economy was affected by the Covid -19 pandemic.  Among the 
measures taken by the government to contain it was the injection of QR 75 billion to the financial 
and monetary sector to help the private sector to continue its economic activities.  This direct 
support was complemented by:  
 
1. Supporting a lending mechanism for commercial banks at the repo rate, by about QR 50 
billion to provide liquidity so that it can facilitate procedures for postponing loan 
instalments or granting new loans to private sector compani es affected by the Covid 
epidemic at low interest rates  
2. Injecting QR 10 billion into the Qatar Stock Exchange to enhance investor confidence  
3. Authorizing the Qatar Development Bank to implement the National Guarantees Program 
to respond to the repercussions  of Covid -19 by about (QR 3 billion Qatari) through local 
banks that operate the wages protection system so that they finance salaries and rent 
payments in the affected sectors, in particular SME.  
 
Please see section 2.4 of the government report for a full  and detailed description of the 
government 's actions in response to the pandemic.  
 
Para 4.32 (p. 74)  
 
In accordance with Law No. 33 of 2005, amended by Amiri Decree Law No. 14 of 2007 and Law 
No. 10 of 2009, the QFMA was established to supervise and regul ate the capital market. Law No. 
8 of 2012 regarding the QFMA, amended by Decree Law No. 22 of 2018, confirms the QFMA's 
independent supervisory and regulatory role. In line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the 
NDS-2, the QFMA set out its second stra tegic plan for 2017 -22, aimed at further developing the 
capital market. The authorities state that initiatives taken during the review period include: (i) 
marketing strategies to attract investors from the Belt and Road initiatives countries; (ii) 
promotio nal activities and partnerships with other finance -related institutions; and (iii) marketing 
efforts to attract investment from FinTech, asset management, capital markets, and Islamic 
finance.  
 
Question:  
20. Is Qatar open to engaging with the Philippines in the context of industry cooperation, 
through activities such as exchange of information and joint initiatives to promote the 
development of sound financial regulatory mechanisms in both jurisdictions?  
 
Answer  
The Qatar Financial Markets Authority is an ordinary member of the International Organization of 
Securities Commissions (IOSCO), which ties all its members with its Multilateral Memorandum of 
Understanding Concerning Consultation and Cooperation and the Exchange of Informatio n 
(MMoU).  Therefore, QFMA is already bounded with the Philippines Securities and Exchange 
Commission (PSEC) by the IOSCO MMOU to consult, cooperate and exchange information. WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 93 - 
 
Furthermore, the QFMA is willing to engage with the PSEC to further cooperate beyo nd the IOSCO 
MMOU.  
 
Para 4.78 (p. 82)  
 
However, the tourism industry was severely affected by the outbreak of COVID -19. According to 
the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Ministry of Interior statistics, visitor 
arrivals declined by 48%  year on year to 548,000 in the first six months of 2020. The authorities 
note that Qatar has closed its borders to international visitors since 17 March 2020, and the border 
remained closed as at November 2020. In the meantime, the Ministry of Public Heal th and the 
National Tourism Council established the Qatar Clean initiative to ensure the highest levels of 
hygiene and safety in tourist establishments. As such, hotels, restaurants, and other tourist 
attractions were able to open up, on a limited basis, t o the domestic market (i.e. Qatari nationals 
and residents).  
 
Question:  
21. What protocols and policies were implemented under the Qatar Clean initiative to ensure 
(a) its status as a safe tourism destination, and (b) the business continuity of its tourism 
enterprises?  
 
Answer  
All information about Qatar Clean is publicly available on www.qatarclean.com  – including the 
various manuals and other relevant information.  
IV. TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
Para 3.38 (Page 45)  
Regarding the possible imposition of safeguard measures, the WTO Committee on Safeguards 
received notifications in respect of investigations covering certain flat -rolled products of iron or 
nonalloy steel ...... the GCC -TSAIP made prel iminary determinations in all three cases that surging 
imports are causing serious injury or the threat of serious injury to GCC industries, the 
investigations are continuing without the imposition of provisional measures  
 
Question:  
22. What were the reasons /grounds for the non -imposition of provisional measures despite 
affirmative preliminary determinations?  
Answer  
To be provided  
Para 3.42 (Page 46)  
In 2011, Qatar launched Tasdeer, an export development agency, to help boost non -hydrocarbon 
exports. Tasdee r operates within the Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and is financed through its 
budget. Although Tasdeer can assist all Qatari exporters regardless of size, its programmes 
primarily target SMEs. Tasdeer Development, a recent addition, provides Qatari busine sses with 
access to a database of potential partners and a range of trade reports and market studies, 
including a trade secrets export guide (in English and Arabic), an FTA guide developed in 
cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, and produ ct and country reports based 
on the ITC's Trade Map, Market Access Map, and other relevant information. Tasdeer also 
organizes seminars and workshops and export readiness and matchmaking programmes. Tasdeer 
joined the Enterprise Europe Network, a portal la unched in 2008 to support SMEs with 
international ambitions, currently co -funded under the European Union's Competitiveness of 
Enterprises and Small and Medium -sized Enterprises and Horizon 2020 programmes.  
 
Question:  
23. Were there measurable positive effects of these export initiatives? Please describe them.  
Answer  
To be provided  
Para 4.19 (Pages 68 -69) 
The banking sector comprises six Qatari traditional banks (i.e. non -Islamic commercial banks), 
seven foreign bank branc hes, four Islamic banks, and one representative office. In terms of total 
assets, Qatari banks account for 98% (comprising traditional banks (71%), and Islamic banks 
(27%)), and foreign banks (2%) (Table 4.4). The three largest banks (the Qatar National Ba nk, WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
- 94 - 
 
the Qatar Islamic Bank, and the Commercial Bank) account for 69% of the total banking sector 
assets. In 2019, the average assets of the Islamic bank group went up by 9.4%, mainly reflecting 
the acquisition of a conventional bank (International Bank of Qatar) by an Islamic bank (Barwa 
Bank). Also in 2019, assets of traditional banks increased by 4.7%, while those of foreign banks 
contracted by 6.9%.  
 
Questions:  
24. In terms of commercial banking activities, is there a provision under Qatar 's domestic 
laws and regulations that limits the number of non -Qatari resident incorporators for entry 
through investing in a new banking subsidiary? Are there succinct restrictions that limit 
foreign nationals from opening an account with a domestic bank und er Mode 2? F  
Answer  
Pursuant to article no. 4 of Law No. 1 of 2019, "regulating Non -Qatari capital investment in the 
economic activity ", the non -Qatari investor is prohibited to invest in banks with exception of 
getting the Council of Ministers approval.  Pursuant to article no. 79 of Law no. (13) of 2012 on 
the issuance of the Law of the Qatar Central Bank And the Regulation of Financial Institutions and 
Markets, QCB shall be responsible for licensing financial services, business, and activities provided 
for in this law and the decisions issued in implementation thereof, to banks, provided that they 
are established as shareholding companies that offer their shares for public subscription, 
accordingly with the terms and controls set by the QCB, and after the proposal is being made to 
the Council of Ministers. The QCB may license any other type of commercial companies other than 
shareholding companies mentioned above, provided obtaining the approval of the Council of 
Ministers. With regards to account opening f or foreign nationals, all individuals (local nationals 
and foreign nationals) with a valid local identification card (ID) and a resident permit (for foreign 
nationals) issued by the immigration department at the Ministry of Interior is allowed to open a 
bank account subject to the compliance of the AML -CFT. 
Foreign commercial banks and investment banks can also be incorporated in the Qatar Financial 
Centre (QFC) as either subsidiaries or branches, and those firms may be authorised by the QFCRA 
to conduct ba nking activities.  There are no limitations on foreign ownership in the QFC.  Firms are 
also permitted to establish representative offices in the QFC, which are limited, in their activities, 
to market research and relationship management.  
 
Questions:  
25. For for eign commercial banks and investment banks, are they required to be locally 
incorporated under Qatar 's current domestic regime? In relation to this, up to what extent 
can representative offices undertake their corresponding activities? Are they only limite d 
to research, exchange of information, and liaison services?  
Answer  
Foreign commercial banks and investment banks can be incorporated in Qatar as foreign branches 
according to QCB law (No. 13 of 2012) and Commercial Companies Law no. (11) of 2015.  
Representative offices do not undertake corresponding activities. However, their activities are 
limited to the exchange of information, marketing of the services and liaison services.  
 
Para 4.20 (Page 69)  
The banking sector is regulated by the QCB, in acco rdance with the Qatar Central Bank and the 
Regulation of Financial Institutions Law (No. 13 of 2012). Pursuant to Law No. 1 of 2019, foreign 
investors are prohibited from investing in banks and insurance companies, unless otherwise 
permitted by a decision of the Council of Ministers (Section 2.4.1). However, in practice, all seven 
foreign banks operate in Qatar through branches, and they were established under Law No. 13 of 
2012 with their licenses issued by the QCB.  
 
Questions:  
26. If this is the case does t he QCB not allow any foreigner to start up a bank in the country? 
Also, given that all of the seven foreign banks which operate in Qatar through branches, 
does this mean that seven of them are allowed to operate? How can other foreign banks 
enter Qatar? Wi ll a newly implemented law be established prior to its operations?   WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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27. Is the provision of factoring services allowed under Qatar 's domestic laws and regulations? 
In this regard, does this require the setting up of a separate entity? What is the limit for 
shareholding by a foreign -controlled commercial bank?  
Answer to Questions 26 and 27  
Question  26  
QCB allows only foreign branches to operate in Qatar as QCB grants a license for Foreign Bank 's 
Branch to operate according to Articles no. (80, 81, 82, 83) of QC B law (No. 13 of 2012) and in 
accordance with requirements and conditions mentioned in QCB Instructions to Banks – up to 
September 2013.  Foreign Bank 's Branch can apply for the license by filling up the License 
Application Form - Foreign Bank 's Branch in Q atar (Form (B) – Banks) under Part II, Instructions 
to Banks – Up to September 2013).  Foreign commercial banks and investment banks can also be 
incorporated (and authorised by the QFCRA to conduct banking activities) in the QFC as either 
subsidiaries or br anches.  There are no limitations on foreign ownership in the QFC.   
 
Question  27 
QCB does not have any instructions regarding provision of factoring services.  However, QCB may 
grant a license for any type of entity other than those mentioned Article no. (79) of QCB Law (No. 
13 of 2012).  Likewise, a foreign commercial bank or investment bank established in the QFC can 
be authorised to engage in factoring as part of its permitted regulated activities.  There are no 
limitations on foreign ownership in the QFC . 
Para 4.28 (Page 69)  
In accordance with Article 95 of the Qatar Central Bank Law, money and property in Qatar cannot 
be insured outside the country. Thus, insurance providers should be local companies or foreign 
companies that have established a branch in  Qatar. Article 103 of the Law also stipulates that 
insurance policies and models must be approved by the QCB before they are sold on the market. 
Foreign insurers may provide services through a branch, and domestic firms are to be established 
through a joi nt-stock company (Table 4.7). Representative offices of foreign insurers are allowed, 
but they are prohibited from carrying out any business or commercial activities in Qatar. In 2019, 
the insurance sector comprised 14 firms: 10 domestic and 4 foreign bran ches. Of the 14, 9 are 
conventional firms and 5 are takaful (Islamic insurance) firms. In addition, there were also 32 
insurance brokers and 4 insurance representatives licensed by the QCB.  
 
Question:  
28. For the entry of foreign insurance and reinsurance firms, what are the specific prudential 
requirements (i.e. qualifying capital in respect of insurance liabilities and risks; risk 
identification and management; and reporting and disclosure) needed to set up a branch 
in Qatar? Relative thereto,  is there an acquisition requirement of the voting stock of an 
existing domestic insurance company? Is there a limitation in the participation of a non -
Qatari resident in the Board of Directors of a locally incorporated insurance company?  
Answer  
Regarding the specific prudential requirements that applied on insurer that is licensed as a branch 
of a foreign insurance and reinsurance firms, please note the following:  
 
• Minimum Capital Requirements: The eligible capital for an insurer licensed as a branch 
shall not be less than 35,000,000 Riyals (thirty -five million Qatari Riyals).  
• Risk management: In general, all insurers must establish and maintain risk 
management policies and procedures for identifying, assessing, monitoring, reporting 
on, and mitigating all significant risks that the insurer is likely to be exposed to.  QCB 
allows for insurer that is licensed as a branch, to use the risk management policies and 
procedures of the head office.  
• Reporting and disclosure: QCB determined the specified data required for offsite 
monitoring on insurers, including foreign branches, such as insurance business 
breakdown, investment results…etc.  
• Accounting standards: An insurer licensed as a branch must maintain appropriate 
financial accounts and statements in accordance wi th the International Financial 
Reporting Standards, or in accordance with the accounting standards in AAOIFI for 
takaful.  
• Auditing: QCB must approve in advance the appointment, or renewal of the 
appointment, or replacement of the auditor.  WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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Furthermore, the re is no limitation in the participation of non -Qatari resident in the board of 
directors of a locally incorporated insurance company.  Foreign  insurers and insurance 
intermediaries can also be incorporated in the QFC (as either subsidiaries or branches) an d can 
be authorized by the QFCRA to conduct insurance activities.  There are no limitations on foreign 
ownership in the QFC.   
 
PART II: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT REPORT  
1. THE GENERAL POLICY CONTEXT  
Para 1.11 (p. 7)  
Qatar Second National Development Strategy (QSNDS) also contains sector -specific development 
strategies, mainly focused on Qatar's critical economic sectors —that is, manufacturing, the 
professional and scientific services, finance, logistics, tourism and Information Communicati on 
Technologies. The document also contains development strategies for security and safety, cultural 
enrichment, and sporting excellence.  
 
Question:  
29. While manufacturing is among Qatar 's critical economic sectors, are there any priority 
industries for development and/or promotion aside from upstream oil and gas, chemicals, 
and electronics?  
 
Answer  
The Qatar National Manufacturing Strategy (QNMS), which derives from the Qatar Second National 
Development Strategy (QSNDS), prioritizes the following manufac turing subsectors for promotion 
and development:  
 
1. Chemicals (polymers)  
2. Aluminium and aluminium products  
3. Plastic products  
4. Additive manufacturing  
5. Pharmaceuticals  
6. Food products and beverages  
7. Desalination  
8. Natural gas processing  
9. Contr olled-environment agriculture  
 3. TRADE POLICY REGIME  
Para 3.49 (p. 41)  
 
IPA has signed tree [sic] bilateral investment promotion agreements. These are, with the 
Malaysian Investment Development Agency, with the Turkish Investment Office and the Russian 
Investment Agency. It also has an additional agreement under consideration with Business 
France.  
 
Question:  
30. Malaysia is the only Asia -Pacific country with whom Qatar has a bilateral investment 
promotion agreement. While Qatar has specified Malaysia  as a secondary target along 
with other Asian countries such as Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, is Qatar 
considering these other countries for similar agreements and/or partnership 
arrangements? If so, what will be the major component/s of these agreeme nts and/or 
partnership arrangements and will there be specific sectors to be highlighted in the same?  
 
Answer  
Since inception, the IPA has entered into 11 partnership agreements, mostly in the form of 
Memorandum of Understanding, Letter of Intent, and/or membership.  Partners range from 
investment and export promotion agencies (Malaysia, Russia, Turkey, and France) to institutional 
organizations (such as the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, World Economic 
Forum).  
The investment and  export promotion agency partnerships have been formed both on the basis 
of the directions set in the agency 's corporate strategy but also in consideration of broader multi - 
and bilateral economic agenda (e.g. state visits/delegations).  Where apparent syne rgies with 
mutual benefits are identified, the IPA intends on further expansions to its list of partnership 
arrangements with other countries.   WT/TPR/M/408/Add.1  
 
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__________  With respect to the Asia -Pacific region in particular, countries such as China, Japan, Singapore 
and South Korea  are being considered as well as cooperation agreements along with webinar 
events that would further promote the bilateral investment opportunities.  As a general rule, the 
IPA selectively enters into partnership arrangements that are mutually beneficial an d result into 
active/concrete joint activities and/or benefits (e.g. events, lead generation, info provision, best 
practice sharing).  
In addition to partnerships, the IPA also receives and/or participates in select official delegation 
meetings.  The IPA clo sely aligns with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to highlight its interactions 
and engagement with new or existing foreign partners across all geographies (including but not 
limited to embassies, business councils, authorities, companies).  
PART III: OTHER  QUESTIONS  
None.