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GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council

India-GCC FTA talks in April: Nath
26-Mar-2007
After more than a year’s gap, representatives of India and the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) will meet next month to take forward the talks on proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Roh proposes free trade talks with Arab Gulf nations
25-Mar-2007 Hankyoreh
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Sunday unveiled an initiative for future cooperation between South Korea and the Middle East, proposing a free trade agreement (FTA) with member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Malaysia mulls FTA with GCC countries
22-Mar-2007
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said Malaysia is considering discussing free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Middle East moves towards VAT
16-Mar-2007
The taxation environment in the GCC may be on the cusp of significant change.
Disagreement puts India-GCC FTA on backburner
9-Mar-2007 Financial Express
Plans to put an India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in place have suffered a setback despite two rounds of talks earlier this year. According to officials, due to the absence of customs union and disagreement among the GCC countries, talks of an FTA with India are now stuck.
FTAs ’threaten Gulf economic security’
7-Mar-2007
The economic security of the Gulf could be threatened by signing free trade agreements (FTAs), some experts said yesterday.
Gulf expects EU trade deal by June
5-Mar-2007
Gulf Arab states and the European Union are likely to finalise a free trade deal by June, the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council said on Monday.
European-Gulf FTA talks falter anew
28-Feb-2007 KUNA
European-Gulf negotiations on a joint free trade agreement have faltered anew due to fresh European economic preconditions for the signing, an Omani representative said Wednesday.
Gulf states must open markets, EU’s Mandelson says
26-Feb-2007 Bloomberg
The EU has agreed to reduce import tariffs on aluminum and petrochemicals from the Gulf to zero in an attempt to conclude their FTA negotiations. In return, the EU wants the limit on foreigners owning majority stakes in Gulf companies ended.
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.