United Arab Emirates: Retail Foods

  |   Attaché Report (GAIN)   |   TC2022-0007

In the past 10 years the food retail segment in the United Arab Emirates has grown rapidly, with the opening of large-scale hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, online retailers, and home delivery services all catering to an expanding population. The general retail landscape is well established in urban areas, with extensive malls and world-leading shopping centers. The food retail sector caters to a tech-savvy international population. E-commerce food and drink grew by 25 percent in 2021 to reach $515 million and is expected to increase more than 23 percent in 2022 due to further innovation. These trends offer great opportunities for U.S. exporters to expand market share in the UAE, where the United States is already the fourth-largest supplier of consumer-oriented products.

Related Reports

On February 15, 2023, Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/334 amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 lowering the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for clothianidin and thiamethoxam in or on certain products was published in the Official Journal (OJ).
Attaché Report (GAIN)

Philippines: Corn TRQ Administration

The Philippines maintains a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for corn (H.S. 1005). Following the reduction of tariffs in 2022 and their extension in 2023, significant interest in how to access the in-quota tariff ensued, and in turn, so followed widespread concern among local stakeholders for the process being anti-competitive, outdated, and potentially inconsistent with the Philippines' commitments with trading partners.
On January 4, 2023, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) National Health Commission (NHC), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), and State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) jointly announced the publication of a new National Food Safety Standard for 112 Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in Foods.