Qatar is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Customs Union which came into effect in 2003.  In accordance with the GCC Customs Union, Qatar maintains a 5 percent tariff on a wide range of products.  Basic food products such as wheat, flour, rice, feed grains and powdered milk are exempted from tariffs.  The tariff on alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, pork, and pork products are 100 percent.  Qatar also has a 20 percent tariff on iron bars and rods, non-alloy hot-rolled steel and 12-millimeter steel bars.  Qatar maintains a 5 percent tariff on all textile imports.  Projects funded by the Qatar Industrial Development Bank can be granted a customs duty waiver for the import of machinery, raw materials and other industrial inputs.