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GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council

EU, seeking far-flung friends, holds first summit with Gulf states
16-Oct-2024 Reuters
Talks on an EU-GCC free trade agreement, which began 35 years ago, have been suspended since 2008. The UAE has urged the EU to start talks on a separate trade pact with it.
Malaysia, GCC finalising FTA to boost economic ties
24-Sep-2024 Business Today
Malaysia is nearing the completion of a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The foreign minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, announced the progress and highlighted the importance of this economic cooperation. Both Malaysia and the GCC members are expected to sign the FTA soon.
Oman, UK discuss GCC free trade agreement
18-Sep-2024 Muscat Daily
The discussions focused on increasing trade and investment, enhancing inter-trade growth, and advancing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the UK.
I-GCC FTA first round negotiations run well: Trade Ministry
17-Sep-2024 Antara News
The first round of negotiations for the Indonesia-Gulf Cooperation Council FTA (I-GCC FTA) was held in Jakarta. Both parties agreed to continue negotiations and aim to finalize the agreement within 24 months.
UK trade minister to meet Gulf state officials in Saudi Arabia
16-Sep-2024 Alarabiya
UK Trade Secretary will discuss ambitions for a trade deal with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Chinese premier calls for acceleration of FTA negotiation with GCC
12-Sep-2024 Xinhua
Chinese Premier Li Qiang called on China and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to strengthen the alignment of their development strategies and speed up the free trade agreement negotiations process.
Hong Kong explores free trade agreements with UAE and Gulf
12-Sep-2024 The National
Hong Kong is exploring free trade agreements with the UAE and the broader Gulf region to boost its trade and investment ties with economies in the region, senior government officials have said.
GCC, Indonesia begin free trade agreement negotiations
10-Sep-2024 Arab News
The GCC and Indonesia are launching negotiations for a free trade agreement. The talks aim to reduce tariffs, simplify trade procedures, and promote investment. The agreement is expected to strengthen economic ties between the two regions.
Malaysia works On FTA with GCC countries - Minister
28-Aug-2024 MENAFN
Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and industry Tengku Zarful Abdul Aziz said on Friday that his country is holding talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Free trade talks with GCC on FTA with UAE by year end, says Tengku Zafrul
23-Aug-2024 The Malaysian Reserve
Malaysia is continuing discussions with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for a free trade agreement (FTA) while a bilateral pact with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be concluded by the end of this year.
Zafrul: Malaysia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement on track for year-end enforcement
1-Aug-2024 The Edge Malaysia
Malaysia’s first free trade agreement (FTA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE),s expected to be signed in two months.
Indonesia, GCC launches free trade agreement talks
1-Aug-2024 Daiji World
GAFT heads Saudi negotiating team in 1st round of GCC FTA negotiations with Türkiye
29-Jul-2024 Saudi Gazette
The General Authority for Foreign Trade (GAFT), represented by Deputy Governor of International Organizations and Agreements Fareed Alasaly, led the Saudi negotiating team in the first round of free trade agreement negotiations between the GCC countries and Türkiye.
ASEAN hints at forming trade pact with Gulf Cooperation Council
22-Jul-2024 Jakarta Globe
ASEAN recently dropped another hint that they might try to strike a trade pact with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as the former tries to boost its trade with partners outside the region.
New UK government to finalise FTA by end of 2024, says GCC secretary-general
12-Jul-2024 Gulf Business
Gulf Cooperation Council secretary-general met with UK’s new Secretary of State for Business and Trade to take forward the ongoing free-trade agreement talks.
8th Saudi-US trade and investment council meeting held in Washington
24-Jun-2024 Arab News
The council’s goal is to monitor trade and investment relations in order to identify opportunities for expansion, work on removing trade and investment barriers.
China eyes Bahrain for free-trade deal; visa waivers possible
7-Jun-2024 The Daily Tribune
China is exploring the possibility of signing a separate Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bahrain while continuing its efforts to finalise a comprehensive FTA with the entire Gulf Cooperation Council.
A new economic partnership is emerging between Africa and the Gulf States
23-May-2024 IAfrica
The emerging economic relations between Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — namely the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman — are poised for significant growth, driven by mutual interests in diversification, investment and sustainable development.
China-Gulf free trade talks stall on Saudi industrial agenda, sources say
14-May-2024 Yahoo News/Reuters
Negotiations between China and an Arab bloc for a free trade agreement have stalled over concerns by Saudi Arabia that cheap Chinese imports could undermine its ambitions to transform the kingdom into an industrial powerhouse.
EU interested in UAE free trade deal as GCC talks stall
8-May-2024 Arabian Business
The EU would be interested in a UAE free-trade deal if talks for a GCC-wide agreement do not progress, according to a top official.