ISDS Case Map
UAE
A free trade agreement between the UAE and Australia is likely to be concluded by the middle of this year, said a top Australian official. The UAE is also likely to conclude another free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, while the GCC is expected to sign its own FTA with the European Union in May.
In a replay of congressional efforts last year that foiled a bid by a Chinese company to buy a US oil firm, a group of hawkish US lawmakers, citing national security concerns, are trying to block a deal that gives a major Arab company control over a British firm that runs some US ports.
After almost two years, negotiations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States over a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are nearing an end, with the two sides expected to close a deal within a few months. But the debate over the effect of the agreement on the UAE's economy has recently been reignited.
The UAE was following the lead set in the GCC by Bahrain yesterday when it started its fourth round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the US in London.
The Bush administration hopes to initiate more free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in 2006, possibly with South Korea and Malaysia, US Trade Representative Rob Portman says.
Investment opportunities will continue to increase in the UAE, according to the principal of one private Equity fund, who pointed to anticipated changes in the federal Company Law as further indication of the country's liberal economy.
Recent difficulties in the implementation of Morocco's free trade agreement with the UAE have raised questions regarding the kingdom's readiness for trade liberalisation. They might also further delay the entry into force of more crucial free trade deals.
The UAE and US will resume their FTA negotiations on the 12 through the 16 of November in London.
According to a top UAE government official, double taxation agreements are paving the way for future free trade agreements and saving millions of dollars for of local companies.
Though many regional free zones have been around since the early 1980's, only recently has the free zone frenzy emerged, coinciding with countries developing free trade agreements (FTA) with their neighbours and others wanting to become members of the WTO.
