The case against a UK Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council
Trade Justice Movement | December 2024
The case against a UK Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council
Introduction
The UK has been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement
with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) since June
2022. The GCC is a regional bloc of six countries :
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Upon taking office, Keir Starmer’s Labour government
has chosen to continue the active trade negotiations
with the GCC inherited from the previous
administration, presenting a trade deal as key to
unlocking economic growth. The Business and Trade
Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has already visited the
Gulf twice, and according to some reports a deal could
be signed very soon.
However, entering into a trade deal with the GCC
would fly in the face of public opinion, offer few
projected benefits, and send a worrying message
about the priorities of the UK’s trade policy when it
comes to human rights and climate.
