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GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council

GCC to do away with border curbs on goods
30-Aug-2010
The latest push to eliminate obstacles could help the Gulf Cooperation Council Customs Union ease transportation of goods and services across the region from next year.
GCC, ASEAN to push forward economic integration
30-Aug-2010 PTI
The Gulf Cooperation Council and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have decided to explore the possibility of reaching a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and a free trade agreement.
Chile moves toward free trade agreement with Persian Gulf
28-Jul-2010 WSJ
Chile took another step toward developing a free trade agreement with Arab nations of the Persian Gulf, as the Chilean president and Kuwait’s prime minister signed several diplomatic and economic agreements Tuesday.
Export duty halts signing of agreement with EU
23-Jun-2010
Export duty is one pending issue that needs to be resolved before an EU-GCC free trade agreement is signed, disclosed Tomas Dupla del Moral, Middle East and south Mediterranean External Commissioner with the European Commission in an email exchange with the Kuwait Times this week.
EU-GCC relations enter new phase
20-Jun-2010
The European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) last week celebrated 22 years of their relationship by launching a three-year Joint Action Programme (JAP) to move forward to stronger cooperation with confidence and optimism.
GCC close to meeting monetary union plan
17-Jun-2010
At the end of 2009, all GCC countries, with the exception of UAE and Oman which disengaged from the plan, were within the fiscal convergence criteria needed for the regional monetary union, the Washington-based Institute of International Finance (IIF) said.
Business council supports Jordan’s aspirations for free trade with GCC
17-Jun-2010
The Saudi Jordanian Businessmen Council supported Jordan’s request for a free trade agreement with Gulf states, according to the council’s Chairman Mohammad Al Audah.
Difference on duties blocks GCC-EU deal
9-Jun-2010
Despite 98% of the issues of the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement between the GCC and EU having been successfully negotiated, the GCC’s decision to impose customs duties on EU exports remain the only sticking point, an EU source has said.
GCC Chief Says FTA Talks With South Korea Making Significant Progress
8-Jun-2010
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and South Korea have taken big strides toward concluding free trade negotiations, although there are some remaining issues to be resolved, Yonhap News Agency reported the council’s visiting secretary general as saying Monday.
Malaysia to draw up FTA framework with GCC countries by October, says Mukhriz
4-Jun-2010 Bernama
Malaysia hopes to draw up a frawework for free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries by October, said International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
China makes top priority of free-trade deal with Gulf
2-Jun-2010 The National
China has made securing a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the GCC a high priority as demand for energy and industrial imports in the fast-emerging global superpower rises.
GCC members suspend free-trade talks with Europe
27-May-2010 Bloomberg
“Negotiations were suspended because EU countries added a clause depriving GCC countries the right to impose duties on EU exports in the future,” the Director General of the External Economic Relations Department at the Gulf Cooperation Council said.
Canada seeks full access to Saudi beef market
13-May-2010 Arab News
Canada, which lost millions of dollars in beef trade opportunities with Saudi Arabia following the outbreak of mad-cow disease, is now seeking full access to this lucrative Saudi market. There is also talk of possibly holding negotiations for a free trade agreement and a general investment protection accord with the Gulf states.
Malaysia can become a gateway for Emirati investors, Deputy Governor Bank Negara Malaysia
26-Apr-2010
Dato’ Mohd Razif Deputy Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said that Malaysia has ample investment opportunities in various fields and can become a gateway for Emirati investors to access Asian Markets, expressing his resolve to open joint ventures between Malaysia and United Arab Emirates to enhance economic and trade ties between them.
Malaysia To Include Islamic Banking In FTA Talks With GCC
26-Apr-2010
Malaysia, which is currently in the midst of negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), will look at several sectors including Islamic banking to be included in the FTA.
UAE to push GCC-EU free trade plan
22-Apr-2010
The UAE will push for a long-awaited free trade agreement between the GCC and the European Union during the Emirates presidency of the Gulf states’ bloc next year, said the Foreign Minister.
Pakistan, GCC close to signing free trade pact
12-Apr-2010 Gulf Times
Talks of signing of FTA between Pakistan and GCC have been making the rounds for several years but both sides have only now reached at some concrete work to move ahead.
GCC states may not resume EU FTA talks
23-Mar-2010 Gulf Times
GCC states may once again refuse to resume free trade agreement talks with the European Union due to “intransigence” on the European side, a senior official said.
Hopes pinned on Gulf trade deal
24-Jan-2010
Closer trade ties with the Middle East will culminate this April with the signing of a free trade agreement. AMANDA MORRALL finds out why the exporter’s road to Mecca is pointing in that direction.
FTA with Gulf council on the backburner as talks put off
26-Nov-2009 Financial Express
In a significant setback to India’s ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Free Trade Agreement discussions between the two sides have been postponed indefinitely.