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UAE doesn't allow dumping low-quality products in local market, says minister
Local traders were also urged to find new markets as classic ones would not be as beneficial as before due to geopolitical developments
- PUBLISHED: Sun 9 Mar 2025, 12:09 PM
The UAE encourages its manufacturers to maintain quality and does not allow dumping of low-quality products in the local market, a senior official said.
“We don't want to dump our market with low-quality stuff. At the same time, we encourage manufacturers to ensure that there's a high-quality product that go from here to the markets we trade with,” Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said at the Sharjah Ramadan Majlis 2025.
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Encouraging local companies to explore countries that have signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) with the UAE, he added that the UAE ensures that there is a system to solve issues in case of a dispute without going through tough and long processes in those markets.
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The UAE has signed CEPAs with dozens of countries, including India, Indonesia, Israel, Turkey, Georgia, and many others, substantially reducing tariffs and customs duties on trade in goods and services.
“We also want to ensure that manufacturers have raw materials and sustainable supply of power and utilities needed for their businesses. We also ensure that the ecosystem is supporting them when it comes to regulations and laws within the country. We don't change them so that they don't disturb their businesses,” he said during a speech at the Majlis.
Juma Al Kait, assistant undersecretary for foreign trade at the Ministry of Economy, noted that CEPAs are strategic tools to secure opportunities and find new partnerships in many different sectors.
CEPAs provide edge
He noted that CEPAs provide a more competitive advantage for UAE products as they eliminate and reduce tariffs.
Dr Farah Al Zarooni, assistant undersecretary for standards and regulations at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, stressed that CEPAs are one of the very important opportunities for the private sector to access new markets.
She added that the UAE ensures that items produced under the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative are not less competitive than foreign products.
“This is one important element that we focus on, and make sure that all the different initiatives under ‘Make it in the Emirates’ are working collaboratively,” she said.
Al Zarooni invited all participants of the Sharjah Ramadan Majlis 2025 to attend the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ exhibition taking place in May 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
Held under the theme, 'Sharjah: Shaping the Future, Empowering Growth', the Majlis was organised by the Sharjah Development and Investment Authority (Shurooq), Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), and Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP).
'Class markets not beneficial'
Due to the geopolitical developments taking place around the globe, Juma Al Kait said “definitely some of the classic markets would be not beneficial as before. So, it is important for traders to find new opportunities in different markets. This is what CEPAs provide for the private sector — new opportunities, alternative markets and making UAE's economy more competitive".
US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on China, Mexico, Canada and other countries has shaken the global economic order, triggering a tariff war among the world’s top economies. However, Trump has hit a pause on Canada and Mexico tariffs in the latest development.
Foreign trade, which is at the heart of the UAE economic strategy, grew around 14 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year.
