Egyptian restrictions inhibit exports to Libya

Jordanian auto traders are frustrated by hurdles from Egyptian authorities which have restricted car exports to Libya. Jordan Free Zone Investors Association President Nabil Rumman told The Jordan Times yesterday that customs authorities in Cairo have prevented cars manufactured before 2008 from entering Egyptian territories as a land transit point to Libya, pushing Jordanian exporters to use ‘costly’ maritime shipping instead. The measures which went into effect late April, pushed down the number of motors re-exported from the free zone in Jordan to Tripoli from around 150 cars a day to less than 50 per week, according to Rumman, who complained that the maritime shipping cost exporters around $1,500 per car while land cargo through Egypt used to cost only $500. “Libya was a very promising market for Jordanian auto exporters,” Rumman said. He also noted that 90 per cent of the cars in the free zone, which is in the city of Zarqa, are manufactured before 2008. “The Egyptian new regulations violate transit cargo agreements between Arab countries,” he added, stressing that hurdles by Egypt restrict trade between Arab states. Rumman said the Ministry of Transport has contacted authorities in Cairo but no response has been received yet. By The Jordan Times