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Qatar’s extensive investments in physical infrastructure have built substantial industrial capacity, but converting national logistics foundations into direct commercial access requires the private sector to bridge the operational gap for international trade.WareOne for Logistics Solutions co-founder and CEO Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Thani made the statement in the wake of the 11th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, where he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oscar Hui, CEO of NEXX Global Limited, establishing a partnership to help Chinese companies enter and operate across the Gulf using Qatar as their base.Sheikh Khalifa pointed out that Qatar’s state-of-the-art facilities require private enterprise solutions to become fully accessible operational entry points for foreign businesses.“Qatar has built remarkable foundations — the port, the airport, the free zones. Our work in the private sector is turning that infrastructure into something a company can actually use,” Sheikh Khalifa said.Sheikh Khalifa said Qatar’s scale and connectivity make it an effective entry point for companies expanding into the wider Gulf. “Qatar is compact enough to prove a model quickly, sophisticated enough to prove it seriously, and connected enough to scale it across the GCC.”He noted that international companies expanding into the Middle East are shifting from shipping goods from origin to establishing local inventory and operating within the region.“Chinese companies have expanded significantly across the Middle East in recent years, with major e-commerce platforms growing alongside electric vehicle, technology and consumer businesses. The pattern is shifting from export to establishment: companies that previously shipped goods from China are increasingly holding inventory in the region and selling locally.“That shift changes what they need. Freight capacity is no longer the constraint. Operating capability is ... warehousing close to the customer, compliant customs clearance, local delivery to Gulf service standards, returns handling, and the regulatory knowledge that differs across the six GCC markets,” Sheikh Khalifa explained.The logistics sector represents a priority cluster under Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) 2024–2030, which aims to diversify the economy and build regional supply chain capabilities.Sheikh Khalifa stressed that optimising these supply chains yields immediate economic benefits for local businesses and Qatari consumers.“The coverage of Gulf–China trade tends to focus on Chinese companies entering the region. The domestic benefit is less discussed and arguably more immediate. Qatari importers, distributors and retailers source extensively from China.“Every inefficiency in that chain — a container held at origin, a shipment split across three providers, a customs delay, a return that cannot be processed locally — is a cost that is eventually carried by the Qatari business and, ultimately, by the Qatari consumer,” he said, adding that consolidating those movements, holding stock in-country, and clearing goods through a single accountable operator removes cost and time from the chain in both directions.Sheikh Khalifa noted that the MoU is not only about helping Chinese companies reach Gulf consumers, but about giving Qatari businesses easier, faster, and cheaper access to Chinese manufacturing and Chinese products, as well as giving Qatari consumers more choice delivered more quickly.The MoU signing ceremony was witnessed by Sheikha Noora Khalifa al-Thani, consul general of Qatar in Hong Kong; Si Junjie, China director of Invest Qatar; Nicholas Ho, commissioner for Belt and Road of the Hong Kong SAR Government; and Houston Guobin Huang, founder and chairman of NEXX Global Limited.Under the terms of the agreement, the two logistics firms will integrate NEXX’s procurement and brand network in China with WareOne’s regional warehousing, customs clearance, fulfilment, and last-mile delivery services.

China's Premier Li Qiang on Monday called for efforts to stabilise external demand and expand international trade cooperation, as weak domestic demand weighs on growth and external risks loom. "Currently, the problem of insufficient domestic demand remains prominent, some industries and enterprises are facing increasing difficulties, and uncertainties in external environment are rising," Li said at a meeting of the state council, China's cabinet, according to state media Xinhua. The world's second-largest economy has been relying on exports to power growth and offset weakness in domestic demand, as a prolonged property crisis constrains investment and household spending. Yet the reliance leaves it vulnerable as frictions with trading partners and the Middle East war could hit global demand for Chinese goods. Economic data released on Monday showed that momentum remained subdued in July, with industrial output and retail sales slowing, after growth cooled to a three-and-a-half-year low in the April-to-June period. At 4.3%, the second-quarter gross domestic product growth landed below Beijing's 4.5% to 5.0% full-year target.   The country's booming goods exports, meanwhile, served as a key growth engine as a global AI infrastructure buildout fuelled demand for China-made high tech products and lifted the prices of chips and other AI-related goods. In the meeting, Li vowed to strive to achieve the annual economic development goals. "We should actively stabilise external demand, expand mutually beneficial international economic and trade cooperation and promote balanced trade development," Li was quoted as saying. He did not elaborate on how the government will stabilise external demand. Li reiterated pledges to make use of existing policies and introduce practical and effective new policies in a timely manner, and highlighted expanding domestic demand as a strategic focus. He also called for promoting employment and income growth, supporting investment in emerging sectors and innovating financing mechanisms to attract private investment in infrastructure.

Air cargo has consistently proven itself as a crucial stabiliser for the global economy; its inherent agility successfully blunting the impact of the 2025 tariff cycle and mitigating the severe disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.The air cargo segment is a vital cornerstone of global commerce, acting as a crucial enabler of international trade, particularly for time-sensitive and high-value goods. While accounting for a mere 1% of world trade volume, it represents an estimated 35% of its total value, moving goods worth more than $8tn annually.Global air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), rose 3.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) as of October, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).Activity was surprisingly strong as importers front-loaded shipments ahead of tariff changes. Demand has remained firm since, though growth is expected to moderate later in the year. For 2025, IATA now projects 3.1% y-o-y growth, an upward revision from 0.7% in our June forecast.Cargo traffic in Asia-Pacific is expected to grow by 8.5% y-o-y this year. Year-to-date or YTD (January-October) data shows broad-based strength across nearly all routes, led by the Europe corridor, which expanded by 10.6%.Chinese exporters diverted shipments affected by US tariffs to other trading partners and adopted strategies such as adding intermediate stops or shifting production to countries outside the tariff lists.While this substitution effect materialised quickly, it might not be sustainable if future tariffs target rerouting practices, the global trade body of airlines noted.The low pricing that supported inventory reductions might not persist, reinforcing our more cautious outlook for 2026.Europe is forecast to grow by 2.5% in 2025. Among Europe’s international routes, only those with Asia (+10.6%) and North America (+7.1%) expanded, as per October YTD data.Africa and Latin America are expected to grow by 3.0% and 4.0%, respectively.In contrast, the Middle East and North America are likely to contract by 1.5% and 1.2%, driven by tariffs in North America and geopolitical tensions combined with easing ocean freight disruptions in the Red Sea for the Middle East.Global air freight yields averaged $2.4/kg YTD through October, about 30% above 2019 levels. Yields were slightly stronger in the first quarter, growing by approximately 4% y-o-y, supported by front-loading and a high base from early 2024. However, momentum weakened from the second quarter onward, with average y-o-y declines of 2.6%, reaching a low of -5.4% in September, but improving again in October to -4.0% y-o-y.In contrast, sea freight rates fell sharply in both monthly and yearly terms, making ocean shipping more attractive and reducing air cargo’s relative price competitiveness.Demand growth by cargo hold type shows a clear divergence: dedicated freighters’ CTK rose by mere 1.4%, reflecting limited expansion on the freighter side due to persistent supply chain bottlenecks, while belly cargo surged by 7.8% YTD through October.Aircraft delivery delays continue to hamper fleet expansion, also on the cargo side.Delays in wide-body freighter deliveries, with the Boeing 777X-F pushed to 2028 and Airbus A350F to late 2027, are leading operators to stretch existing fleets and rely on passenger aircraft conversions.However, the pool of suitable passenger aircraft is shrinking due to limited availability of new passenger aircraft. This sustained supply shortfall is driving up air freight rates, particularly for dedicated freighters, and is likely to take years to unwind. Medium wide-bodies, notably the Airbus A330 and Boeing 767, dominate the conversion market as immediate, though costlier, substitutes for delayed next-generation freighters.The global cargo load factor reached 45.3% in October 2025 YTD, broadly unchanged from 2024. While demand growth is expected to slow in 2026, steady air cargo demand amid global uncertainties and persistent capacity constraints should keep load factors broadly flat.For 2026, IATA expects air cargo demand to continue to expand, albeit at a slower pace than in 2025, in line with softening global trade.The slowdown is unlikely to be as pronounced as the general trade deceleration, as air cargo continues to benefit from rising demand for high-value, time-sensitive goods, particularly driven by e-commerce and semiconductors.Persistent global uncertainties around tariffs and supply chain disruptions will reinforce air transport’s role as the most reliable mode of delivery.Overall, IATA forecasts 2.6% growth for the industry in 2026, led by Asia-Pacific at 6%. Other regions should grow around 2%, while the Middle East will stagnate, and North America will edge down by 0.5%.Undoubtedly, air cargo industry's ability to provide speed, security, and flexibility makes it an indispensable component of the modern, interconnected global economy, enabling businesses to meet demanding customer expectations and adapt to volatile market conditions.Pratap John is Business Editor at Gulf Times. X handle: @PratapJohn. 

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) held a two-day workshop on 'Combating Harmful Practices in International Trade and Protecting Gulf Industries'.The workshop was organised in co-operation with the Office of the Technical Secretariat for Combating Harmful Practices in International Trade at the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) General Secretariat.The workshop brought together employees from the General Authority of Customs responsible for applying duties related to combating harmful practices in international trade, in addition to staff from the ministry working in this field.It also aimed at enhancing awareness of the GCC Common Law of Anti-Dumping, Countervailing Measures and Safeguard, and to underline the role of customs authorities in enforcing measures adopted by ministerial committees.Sessions covered types of harmful trade practices, including dumping, subsidies, and surges in imports, alongside relevant national and regional legislation. It also introduced the GCC Common Law, the associated WTO (World Trade Organisation) agreements, and the Office of the Technical Secretariat at the GCC General Secretariat. It also discussed the economic impacts of such practices and the results achieved under the relevant law.The workshop further outlined procedures for filing complaints, conducting investigations, and applying corrective measures, while highlighting the role of customs administrations across GCC member states in addressing such practices.The workshop concluded with an open discussion, during which customs officials exchanged views and proposed solutions to strengthen duties against harmful trade practices. 

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has held an introductory workshop on mechanisms to combat harmful practices in international trade and their role in safeguarding Gulf industries.The two-day event was organised in co-operation with the GCC General Secretariat's technical bureau for anti-dumping duties.The workshop brought together specialists from the General Authority of Customs responsible for implementing anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties, along with ministry officials working in related fields.The programme aimed to raise awareness of the Common GCC Law on Anti-Dumping, Countervailing and Safeguard Measures, and to highlight the role of customs authorities in enforcing measures issued by the relevant ministerial committees, thereby helping protect regional industries from unfair trade practices.Participants were introduced to the types of harmful practices in international trade such as dumping, subsidies and surges in imports — and were briefed on the related local and regional legislations, including the Common GCC Law and relevant World Trade Organisation agreements. The workshop also outlined the role of the GCC's technical secretariat burrea in combating harmful practices and supporting Gulf industries.Discussions covered the economic impact of harmful trade practices, key outcomes achieved through the implementation of the anti-dumping law, and detailed procedures for filing complaints, conducting investigations and applying measures. The strategic role of customs authorities across GCC states in addressing such practices was also emphasised.The workshop concluded with a discussion session during which customs officials raised questions about the challenges related to implementing anti-dumping duties, while organisers presented proposed solutions and recommendations. 

His Excellency Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, met separately with the Foreign Minister of Colombia, Rosa Yolanda Mapy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Chadians Abroad of the Republic of Chad Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe Prof. dr. Amon Murwira, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs of the US, Michael Kozak, EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process Christophe Bigot, and Member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, Lord Tariq Ahmad, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The discussions focused on cooperation relations, ways to support and enhance them, and issues of mutual interest.

As many as seven companies from Qatar will participate in the upcoming Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2025, scheduled from September 17 to 20 at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur.The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) office in Qatar disclosed to Gulf Times that the participating companies from Doha are Lari Group, Qatar National Import & Export (QNIE), Al Majid Jawad Distribution & Marketing, Magic Touch, Tanit Group, IBRIDGE Trading, and Morex Group.Following previous business meetings between Malaysian companies under MATRADE and their Qatari counterparts under the Qatar Chamber, “MATRADE has observed that all Qatari companies feel comfortable and secure when engaging with Malaysian companies certified as halal” by the Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) or the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia.MATRADE also informed this paper that it is targeting Qatar “as one of the top prominent markets” in the region to increase awareness about JAKIM’s “vital role in promoting the importance of halal products in daily healthy life.”“MATRADE is also expanding a wide range of business opportunities to halal-concerned Malaysian corporations and organisations, especially to a highly respected entity like Qatar Chamber,” it stated.According to MATRADE, JAKIM, which is “recognised by the Food Safety Department” under the Ministry of Public Health, “stands as one of the world’s most influential and respected authorities in Islamic affairs, particularly in the domain of halal certification and standardisation.“Established under the Prime Minister’s Department, JAKIM plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the integrity of Islamic principles in Malaysia while shaping the global halal landscape with its internationally recognised standards.”Last week, MATRADE Qatar hosted a webinar titled ‘The Importance of Halal Products in our Lives’. The session aimed to provide Malaysian companies with insights into the Qatari market – recognised as a key target for halal products – highlighting the growing awareness and positive reception of halal-certified goods among the Qatari population.The webinar was organised by Rami el-Sayegh, senior marketing manager at MATRADE Qatar, and moderated by Shafiq Nasarudin, assistant trade commissioner at MATRADE Dubai. During the webinar, Jaffar Waqqas, category supervisor at QNIE, outlined the requirements and procedures for exporting food products to the Qatari market and emphasised the importance of halal certifications within the Qatari community.“The 21st edition of MIHAS will be a four-day trade showcase held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, alongside the MIHAS Virtual platform,” according to its website, which added that the event “is poised to attract one of the highest participations ever.”During a briefing session with foreign missions and industry players held last month in Kuala Lumpur, MATRADE emphasised that “MIHAS 2025 is gaining remarkable traction, with projections pointing to more than 2,300 booths from 45 countries, an impressive leap beyond the 2,028 booths featured in the last edition.”MIHAS 2025, under the theme ‘Pinnacle of Halal Excellence’, will highlight innovation, sustainability, and digitalisation as key drivers of growth.”“Its enhanced Knowledge Hub will advance knowledge exchange, halal investment, and policy alignment, whereas their targeted International Sourcing Programme (INSP) will empower Malaysian exporters with access to curated international buyers, powered by the MADANI Digital Trade (MDT) Platform for real-time matching and analytics, ensuring greater efficiency and resilience in business matching,” MATRADE added.Ends

Most of President Donald Trump’s global tariffs were ruled illegal by a federal appeals court that found he exceeded his authority by imposing them through an emergency law, but the judges let the levies stay in place while the case proceeds.The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Friday upheld an earlier ruling by the Court of International Trade that Trump wrongfully invoked the law to hit nations across the globe with steep tariffs. But the appellate judges said the lower court should revisit its decision to block the tariffs for everyone, rather than just the parties in the case.“The statute bestows significant authority on the President to undertake a number of actions in response to a declared national emergency, but none of these actions explicitly include the power to impose tariffs, duties, or the like, or the power to tax,” the court said.Friday’s 7-4 decision extends the suspense over whether Trump’s tariffs will ultimately stand. The case had been expected to next go to the Supreme Court for a final ruling. The administration could now turn to the justices, who have largely backed the president on other matters. But the White House could also let the Court of International Trade revisit the matter first.‘Total Disaster’ “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social shortly after the decision was issued.“Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the US of America will win in the end,” the president said. “If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country.”Trillions of dollars of global trade are embroiled in the legal fight. A final ruling tossing Trump’s tariffs would upend his much ballyhooed trade deals. The administration also would be forced to contend with demands to refund tariffs that were already paid.In telling the lower court to reconsider how broadly its ruling should apply, the Federal Circuit pointed to the Supreme Court’s recent decision on Trump’s efforts to restrict automatic birthright citizenship. That ruling barred federal judges from issuing so-called universal injunctions that go beyond the parties in a case and apply nationwide.”But the Supreme Court left open the possibility that judges in some cases could use other legal mechanisms to reach the same outcome. Indeed, several judges re-issued nationwide injunctions against Trump’s birthright citizenship restrictions, saying the sweeping orders were still appropriate under the new Supreme Court standard.The two cases at the centre of the ruling were filed by Democratic-led states and a group of small businesses. They have argued all along that a ruling against the tariffs must apply across the nation. That issue may now become a focus of further arguments.The tariff cases challenged Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to sidestep Congress and issue the tariffs, arguing that he did so to force trading partners to negotiate rather than to address any legitimate national emergency. IEEPA does not mention tariffs and had never been used in such a manner.“Notably, when drafting IEEPA, Congress did not use the term ‘tariff’ or any of its synonyms, like ‘duty’ or ‘tax,’” the court said. “There are numerous statutes that do delegate to the President the power to impose tariffs; in each of these statutes that we have identified, Congress has used clear and precise terms to delegate tariff power.”Tim Brightbill, a trade attorney at Wiley Rein who isn’t involved in the case, said the appeals court had concluded that even if IEEPA had permitted the president tariff powers, “the government exceeded its authority with the breadth and scope of these worldwide tariffs.” Administration officials have prepared options to pursue additional tariffs through other federal authorities, even amid an expected appeal, according to a person familiar.The administration had already turned increasingly to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to pursue levies against categories of goods, from lumber to semiconductors.Other legal options lack the swift, immediate impact of the president’s original manoeuvre under IEEPA, which has fewer hurdles because it’s intended to be used in emergencies.In its May 30 ruling, the Court of International Trade found Trump improperly used IEEPA to impose the tariffs, agreeing that such power is vested in Congress by the Constitution. The Federal Circuit judges similarly signalled scepticism of Trump’s claim of broad tariff authority under IEEPA during July 31 oral arguments.Fearing that the court might rule the tariffs illegal and invalidate them immediately, the administration earlier on Friday filed statements by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning of dire foreign policy consequences if the court took such action. Bessent said it would lead to “dangerous diplomatic embarrassment” for the US.