Reeves eyes trade deal with Gulf countries after striking EU Brexit reset pact
The Independent | 20 May 2025
Reeves eyes trade deal with Gulf countries after striking EU Brexit reset pact
by Millie Cooke, Holly Evans, Archie Mitchell
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Government is next hoping to secure a trade deal with the six Gulf nations, including Qatar and Saudia Arabia.
She told the BBC the pact would be Sir Keir Starmer’s “next deal” after securing an agreement with the European Union in a post-Brexit reset of the UK-EU relationship.
Treasury minister Darren Jones has claimed that the trade deal struck with the EU will boost growth by an estimated £90bn by 2040.
Officials earlier said the prime minister’s deal would add £9 billion to Britain’s economy, while cutting bills for shoppers and bolstering border security.
Mr Jones told Sky News his £90bn figure was the sum of 15 years of benefit up to 2040. He added: “And of course, we want businesses to be able to think about exporting into the European market again like they used to in the past."
It came after the prime minister declared that Britain was “back on the world stage” as he unveiled his “win-win” post-Brexit deal with the EU.
But he sparked a backlash from the fishing industry and Brexiteers by striking a deal for EU fisherman to access British waters for 12 years, far longer than had been expected.
