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Gulf Cooperation Council

Pakistan to sign FTA with GCC soon: Khan
10-Nov-2006 Zawya
Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Hamayun Akhtar Khan yesterday said that his country will soon sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the GCC bloc in coming few weeks, which will cover goods and services, and would give a big push to attract much needed foreign investment.
The importance of free trade agreements
3-Nov-2006 Al-Hayat
The European relations with the Arab World can be regarded as a model that the US should follow. The evidence lies in the welcome of free trade agreements between the EU and Arab countries, and in the doubts about free trade agreements with the US.
Japan to accelerate FTA talks with GCC, East Asia
3-Nov-2006 KUNA
Japan will revitalize its efforts to conclude free trade agreements (FTAs) and investment accords with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), East Asia and India, the top government spokesman said Thursday.
GCC countries ’rush into US free trade agreements’
16-Oct-2006 Gulf News
The Dubai police chief said on Saturday that GCC countries that have signed bilateral free trade agreements with the United States "rushed into them".
Mercosur-GCC agreement to include all bilateral trade
13-Oct-2006 ANBA
Apart from the products whose imports are prohibited, negotiations between both blocs should cover 100% of the current tax universe. This is one of the conclusions of the meeting that took place this week between diplomats from both blocs.
Gulf: take oil, open financial sector
12-Oct-2006 Indian Express
The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has asked India to push through financial sector reforms and in return offered its huge oil and gas reserves to meet the country’s energy needs.
FTAs ring alarm bells to Bahrain, Oman
6-Oct-2006
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bahrain and the US has been operational since August 1, and on September 19, the US Congress approved the FTA with Oman, which will come into effect soon. The media coverage of the two deals in the region have been limited to official announcements without pointing out the serious dangers these FTAs pose to the GCC customs union.
Japan, GCC states to meet by the year-end to push FTA talks
26-Sep-2006
Energy-poor Japan and the GCC states are expected to meet again in Saudi Arabia by the end of this year for a second round on negotiations on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in a bid to secure stable fuel supplies.
Japan, Persian Gulf nations hold first meeting to discuss free trade deal
21-Sep-2006
Japan and six Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia on Thursday began the first round of talks on a free trade agreement, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.
Indo-Gulf free trade plan hits a petrochem block
18-Sep-2006 Economic Times
The proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has hit a roadblock with the Indian industry, especially the petrochemical sector, opposing the agreement.
Weak IPR makes GCC-6 seek individual FTAs with India
15-Sep-2006
Weak implantation of intellectual property right (IPR) in the country and different legal systems operative in the member-nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC-6) have led them to seek individual free trade agreements (FTAs) with India.
Dubai Chamber says Jordan is a potential market for UAE
11-Sep-2006
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) said that Jordan is a potential market for the UAE, and the UAE could win a good chunk of Saudi Arabia’s trade with Jordan.
Goff announces new free trade agreement negotiations
8-Sep-2006
Foreign Ministers from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states have agreed to commence negotiations for a free trade agreement with New Zealand, Trade Minister, Phil Goff announced today.
FTA negotiations to start with Gulf States
7-Sep-2006
The Foreign Ministers from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman - have agreed to begin negotiations for a free trade agreement with New Zealand.
Oman seeks fast-track mechanism for India-GCC FTA
4-Sep-2006
Oman today said India and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council should create a fast-track mechanism for early completion of negotiations on the proposed Free Trade Agreement to boost economic engagement.
GCC-EU trade pact talks make remarkable progress
24-Aug-2006
The ongoing negotiations between the GCC and the EU to reach a free trade agreement are achieving remarkable progress and the agreement is expected to be signed before the end of this year as planned, according to an EU official.
Negotiate, negotiate and negotiate
16-Aug-2006 Gulf News
The EU has brought up new subjects that "hasn’t really made the GCC side too happy" in terms of delaying the EU-GCC FTA negotiations. "You saw the negotiations being filled with all kinds of issues that really shouldn’t have been a part of an FTA agreement: human rights, political reform and (anti-) terrorism strategies."
Partial trade deal on the table with China
12-Aug-2006
The GCC and China seem more determined than ever to pursue the goal of attaining a free trade agreement (FTA) in the not-too-distant future.
Mercosur plans to return to dialogue with the GCC in September
10-Aug-2006
The Mercosur wants to return to free trade treaty talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in September, after the holiday period in the Arab world and before Ramadan, the holy month that this year should begin around September 22. The idea is to organize a meeting between representatives of both blocs in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
GCC-China agreement on services to take time
10-Aug-2006
China is optimistic of concluding the first part of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the six-nation GCC block by the end of this year, but the second part may take more time, officials said yesterday.