Brussels, 10 March 2017
Press release
On 10 March 2017, Palestine deposited with the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization its instrument of accession to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System).
Considering that more than 98 % of international merchandise trade is classified in terms of the Harmonized System, the World Customs Organization is pleased to welcome Palestine as the 156th Contracting Party to the Harmonized System Convention and looks forward to its active participation with respect to Harmonized System matters.
Palestine’s GDP (2012) was $10 billion with a largely agricultural sector. It had $721 million in exported goods (2011), largely olives, fruits, vegetables, limestone, and textiles. Palestine also had $4.2 billion in imported goods (2011).
The Harmonized System Convention will enter into force in Palestine on 1 January 2018.