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GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council

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.
Lobbies trying to stall FTA with EU: Attiyah
25-Nov-2009 Peninsula
Lobbies representing European petrochemicals and aluminum industries are attempting to stall the long overdue free trade agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union because they are concerned about compettion from the GCC
NZ agrees trade deal with six Gulf states
3-Nov-2009
New Zealand has successfully concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement with six oil-rich Gulf states, Trade Minister Tim Groser announced yesterday.
New Zealand and Gulf states finalize free trade pact
2-Nov-2009 Monsters and Critics
New Zealand and the six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council have concluded a free trade agreement, Trade Minister Tim Groser announced Monday.
Malaysia plans to start FTA talks with GCC countries
5-Oct-2009 Business Times
Malaysia hopes to start negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries this week.
FTA between GCC, EU expected to be sealed next March: Kuwaiti official
1-Oct-2009 Xinhua
The long-awaited negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council is expected to be completed by next March, a Kuwaiti senior official said Tuesday.
EU urged to sign free trade deal with Gulf states
29-Sep-2009 Business 24/7
Gulf oil producers yesterday urged the European Union to stop setting conditions and sign a free trade agreement that has eluded the two sides for nearly two decades because of persistent rifts.
NZ closer to Middle East trade deal
24-Aug-2009 NZ Herald
Plans to further relations between New Zealand and the Middle East are on track and a trade agreement looks close to being finalised next year, one business expert says.
Gulf states, EU to resume negotiations over free-trade agreement
11-Aug-2009 SmartBrief
The EU is expected to drop "noneconomic demands" to which the Gulf states object, according to a report from the Emirates Industrial Bank.
Korea looks to FTA with Arab States
19-Jul-2009 Chosun Ilbo
After concluding free trade talks with the European Union, Korea is eyeing the Gulf Cooperation Council as its next FTA partner
SL-Kuwait concludes Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement
8-Jul-2009 PRIU
Sri Lanka and Kuwait successfully concluded negotiations on the proposed Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) between two countries. This will be Sri Lanka’s first ever IPPA with a Gulf country.
Further FTA talks start this week with Gulf states
8-Jul-2009 Joong Ang Daily
Korea and a group of six oil-producing Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, will hold a third round of free trade negotiations in Seoul this week, the trade ministry said yesterday.