التجارة الزراعية البينية العربية ملامح الاداء والرؤية المستقبلية

The annual average volume of agricultural trade among Arab countries represented only 13.2% of total foreign agricultural trade of Arab Countries over the period (1988-1997). The export market among Arab Countries is not that well established on sustainable planned policies, it is unstable and grows arbitrary, except for Morocco and to some extend for Jordan and Tunisia, where it showed significant positive and stable trend of agricultural exports to other Arab countries. Live animals and animal products, followed by oil seeds and vegetables occupied the first ranks within the agricultural export structure among Arab countries in nineties. There is centralization in agricultural trade among Arab countries. Whereas about 68% of agricultural export are delivered from Syria. Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, about 66% of agricultural imports am to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Jordan. Also, 90% of Gulf countries agricultural trade is within the Gulf cooperation Council. The analysis showed that whereas the terms of trade among Arab countries in nineties were on the average for Libya, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Tunis they were against Kuwait, Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia. Morocco, and Syria. However, the terms of trade have become for Egypt since mid of nineties. Arab countries exports are mainly row materials and lack of competitive advantages. Therefore. most of the Arab Countries foreign trade is restricted between Europe, European Union and United States. The study showed several approaches and policies to be followed. All Amb Countries should change their strategy from import replacement and self-sufficiency to export promotion and economic liberalization. Cooperation should not be restricted within exemption of tariffs, but it should focus on stimulate capital mobilization and labor transfer among Arab countries. Joint venture investment among private sector business should be established in Arab markets as projects for processing; storage warehouses packaging, transportation, grading and communication facilities. Specialized related Arab league organizations as well as Economic Unity Council for Arab Countries should give support to several regional efforts it. the area of specification codes, environmental aspects of traded commodities and other subjects imposed by the World Trade Organization agreement, because individual countries could not afford such issues. Acceleration of the significant implementation of the Arabic Union Market is a must to face the forthcoming impacts of the world free trade agreements.