Kuwait Court Lifts 20-Year Trade Ban, Ends Local Monopoly

11/03/2025

Kuwait Court Lifts 20-Year Trade Ban, Ends Local Monopoly

KUWAIT CITY, March 11: The judiciary has revoked a precautionary seizure order issued more than two decades ago on goods bearing a global trademark, which had been monopolized by a local company. According to the grievance papers, the local trademark agent issued an order in 2000 to seize all goods bearing the trademark through various customs ports. As a result, Kuwait General Administration of Customs (KGAC) implemented the seizure order on any goods imported under the applicable circulars at the time. An importer of goods bearing the same trademark filed a grievance after the KGAC refused to release a shipment he imported, preventing him from receiving the goods. The importer then resorted to the judiciary with the help of his lawyer, Attorney Dr. Fawaz Al-Khatib.

Al-Khatib argued that the seizure order violated several laws, including the Code of Civil Procedure, Commercial Agencies Regulation Law, Trade Law, and Competition Protection Law. After exhausting all legal avenues, the complainant obtained a final and binding ruling to annul the precautionary seizure order and lift the monopolistic restrictions on the goods. Al-Khatib stated that this ruling highlights the effectiveness of the judiciary in protecting economic entities and fostering a competitive and fair investment environment in line with the latest economic laws. It also enhances the confidence of traders and investors in the integrity of Kuwait’s legal framework, he added.

By Jaber Al-Hamoud
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff