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GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council


Japan, Persian Gulf nations hold first meeting to discuss free trade deal
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
FTA to herald new era of partnership between EU and GCC
The EU-GCC free trade agreement will open a new era of economic, trade, investment and commercial activities between the two blocs, a top French envoy in the Kingdom told Bahrain Tribune.
UAE and Japan to boost trade ties
The UAE and Japan yesterday agreed to foster their existing trade and economic relations by starting discussions on Avoidance of Double Taxation Treaty to create an enabling environment for bilateral investments.
FTAs: Much more than trade pacts
In keeping with the global trend, it is free trade agreement (FTA) talks galore in the Gulf. Apart from a deal with Lebanon, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are collectively and individually negotiating FTAs with the United States, European Union and India at present.
Australia to consider free trade talks
Australia will consider negotiating a free trade agreement with several Middle Eastern countries, Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile said Wednesday.
Gulf trade talks may widen
THE Government will look at expanding its free trade negotiations with the United Arab Emirates to take in a deal with a much wider group of Middle Eastern nations. The member states of the Gulf Co-operation Council - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE - have asked Australia to incorporate the bilateral negotiations into a wider deal.
Gulf, EU show flexibility in reaching a compromise
A free trade agreement (FTA) between the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and 25-member European Union (EU) could be clinched as early as year-end as there seems to be a possibility that the two sides will relax rules related to investments and rules of origin.
EU presses for conclusion of free-trade deal with GCC
European Union trade chief Peter Mandelson called Saturday for talks in Brussels with the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, so that a final free trade deal with the Gulf Arab bloc can be struck by year-end.
Now, FTA with Gulf runs into trouble
If it’s edible oil which is delaying India’s free trade agreement (FTA) with Asean, petrochemical products and plastics are proving to be a stumbling block for a bilateral trade pact with the six oil-rich members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).