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  1. Negotiations

GCC


The Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, with Yemen hoping to join by 2016) is dealing head-on with bilateral free trade agreements at various levels. On the one hand, it has gone through a lot of tension as its member countries have been drawn into individual bilateral treaties with foreign powers like the United States, including with a major row between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain when Bahrain signed with Washington. On the other hand, it has been working as a group to establish FTAs with others, including Australia, China, Mercosur, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Turkey, New Zealand, India, Iran, ASEAN and the European Union. It signed an FTA with Syria in 2005, and more recently with Singapore (2008) and EFTA (2009).

last update: May 2012
photo: US Department of State/Wikimedia Commons

See also
Saudi Arabia intends to sign more free trade agreements – report
30-Oct-2023     Zawya
Trade talks will be negotiated through the six-nation GCC bloc, says economy minister.
GCC-China discuss free trade agreement
23-Oct-2023     Muscat Daily
Jasem Mohamed al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of GCC, stressed that the free trade agreement between the GCC countries and China, which is currently being negotiated, will undoubtedly be one of the important factors in strengthening GCC-China relations in all fields, especially economic and investments.
As China seeks to supercharge energy deals in Middle East, Qatar eyes benefits of a free-trade agreement
9-Oct-2023     South China Morning Post
Six Middle Eastern countries, comprising the Gulf Cooperation Council, have been seeking a free-trade deal with China for nearly 20 years.
Saudi commerce minister chairs preparation meeting for GCC-UK trade talks
10-Jul-2023     Arab News
The fourth round will be held in two sessions; remote as well as in-person meetings in London.
Pakistan and GCC finalise strategic dialogue to boost trade ties
7-Jan-2022     Gulf News
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and GCC Secretary-General reviewed the latest developments and progress on the free trade agreement
Pakistan says expects free-trade talks with Gulf countries by June
24-Feb-2021     Arab News
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has reached out to Pakistani authorities to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) by June this year, a top Pakistani diplomat in Riyadh said.
GCC ministers discuss increasing free trade agreements with other countries
10-Dec-2020     MENAFN
GCC states need to ensure the adoption of economic diversification plans through free trade agreements, UAE Foreign Trade Minister said.
Free trade agreement talks between GCC & China gain momentum
16-May-2016     The Peninsula
The talks between GCC countries and China to reach a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have gained momentum. Once implemented, the agreement will further boost cooperation and the volume of trade between the two sides.
The case for free trade in the GCC
23-Sep-2015    
It has been 240 years since Scottish economist Adam Smith made the then-outrageous suggestion that nations could improve their wealth by removing tariffs on imported goods. At the time, 1776, not only did these taxes — invariably more than 40 percent on certain goods — inflate prices for consumers, they often accounted for the majority of government revenues.
GCC leaders to meet with President Obama
11-May-2015    
Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council will be meeting with President Barack Obama this week at the White House and at Camp David. The six member nations of the GCC include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.