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GCC

The Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, with Yemen hoping to join by 2016) is dealing head-on with bilateral free trade agreements at various levels. On the one hand, it has gone through a lot of tension as its member countries have been drawn into individual bilateral treaties with foreign powers like the United States, including with a major row between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain when Bahrain signed with Washington. On the other hand, it has been working as a group to establish FTAs with others, including Australia, China, Mercosur, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Turkey, New Zealand, India, Iran, ASEAN and the European Union. It signed an FTA with Syria in 2005, and more recently with Singapore (2008) and EFTA (2009).

last update: May 2012
photo: US Department of State/Wikimedia Commons


Kuwait, China’s Hong Kong sign agreement to boost cooperation
Kuwait and China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed an agreement to promote and protect investment.
Hong Kong, Qatar ‘substantially conclude’ investment pact: HKSAR chief
Hong Kong and Qatar have made significant progress in concluding the negotiations for an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.
GCC eyes free trade agreement with India in 2025: Key developments at Kochi dialogue
The Gulf Cooperation Council is set to initiate long-awaited free trade negotiations with India this year, according to its Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi.
Saudi Arabia participates in 1st round of GCC-Japan FTA talks
Deputy Governor of the Saudi General Authority of Foreign Trade is leading Saudi Arabia’s delegation participating in the first round of negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between GCC countries and Japan, in Riyadh from 10 to 12 December.
Oman, UK discuss GCC free trade agreement
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.
Hong Kong explores free trade agreements with UAE and Gulf
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.
GAFT heads Saudi negotiating team in 1st round of GCC FTA negotiations with Türkiye
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.
A new economic partnership is emerging between Africa and the Gulf States
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
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.
GCC inks free trade deal with South Korea
The GCC deepens economic ties with major Asian partners, signing its second FTA this year, highlighting commitment to investment and economic diversification.