Trade facilitation has gained importance as the global trade system has expanded and tariffs have fallen. A reduction in trade transaction costs by 1 per cent of the value of world trade is expected to provide welfare gains of $40 billion worldwide.
 
In the Arab region, despite the full implementation of the Greater Arab Free Trade Agreement (GAFTA) in 2005, the level of intraregional trade has remained very low compared with other parts of the world.