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GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council

Trade deals to position UAE as economic hub
24-Feb-2007 Zawya
The UAE is negotiating eight free-trade agreements with key economic blocks that will have an impact on trade worth Dh388 billion, according to 2005 figures, and cement the country’s position as the economic hub of the Middle East.
GCC and EU free trade talks stall
21-Feb-2007 Arabian Business
Negotiations between European Union and GCC officials at ministerial level have been delayed until May, an EU source announced yesterday.
GCC, EU closer to FTA deal
13-Feb-2007 Khaleej Times
A final deal which is expected to be clinched during Mandelson’s visit to the UAE and Saudi Arabia from February 24.
S Korea mulls free trade deal with Gulf states
31-Jan-2007 Times of Oman
South Korea is actively considering forging a free trade agreement with six Gulf nations, its top economic official said Wednesday.
Agreement with the GGC is important for all in the Mercosur, says Brazilian Foreign Minister
18-Jan-2007 ANBA
Representatives of the Mercosur and the Gulf Cooperation Council met yesterday in Rio de Janeiro to discuss a free trade agreement between both blocs.
Europe trumps US in Persian Gulf trade
18-Jan-2007 Forbes
While US free trade initiatives in the Gulf appear to be faltering, Europe has stepped into the vacuum, launching a charm offensive that appeared to be on the brink of clinching a trade pact with a bloc of six energy-rich Arab states.
GCC-Japan trade deal takes shape
18-Jan-2007 Gulf News
Japan is expecting to finalise a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) by the end of 2007, according to a senior diplomat.
Trade pact with Pakistan on way
12-Jan-2007 Gulf Daily News
Bahrain and Pakistan have vowed to step up negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which could be signed before the end of the year.
Arab Gulf delegation to visit Brazil to ink agreement with Mercosur
6-Jan-2007 ANBA
The basic texts for the free trade agreement between Mercosur and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), according to Brazilian diplomats, are going to be ratified during the summit of the South American bloc, to take place on January 18th and 19th in Rio de Janeiro.
FTA with Gulf States promises substantial benefits
2-Jan-2007 Harold Doan
After the suspension of FTA negotiations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2006, the Australian Government commissioned a study by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade into the merits and feasibility of an FTA with the GCC. Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, said the study found that an FTA would maximise Australia’s long-term commercial interest in the GCC.
Gulf monetary union is a cracking project?
18-Dec-2006 Gulf News
The main reason for the delay in the finalisation of the GCC customs union was the unilateral decision by Oman, preceded by Bahrain, to sign a free trade agreement with the US.
Free trade pacts now in fashion
9-Dec-2006 The Telegraph
The Gulf nations and Japan are the next in line for free trade agreements (FTAs) with India.
GCC and Singapore to start talks on FTA
26-Nov-2006 Channel News Asia
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Singapore have agreed to start negotiations for a free trade agreement.
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.