Free Trade Agreement negotiations launched between GCC and UK

Free Trade Agreement negotiations launched between GCC and UK

Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed R. Al Zayani announced today the official launch of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United Kingdom. The move was announced during a phone call that took place earlier today between Al Zayani and Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan, joined by Minister of International Trade Ranil Jayawardena, as well as Secretary-General of GCC Dr. Nayef bin Falah Al-Hajraf, Governor of Saudi General Authority for Foreign Trade and General Coordinator for Negotiations at the GCC General Secretariat-General and Head of GCC Negotiations Team, Abdulraham Ahmed Al Harbi, and Assistant Under Secretary for Domestic and Foreign trade at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism in Bahrain Shaikh Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa. An FTA between the GCC countries and the UK would add a new chapter to what is already a long-standing and strategic partnership, evidenced by annual trade of £30 billion in goods, as well as an additional £19 billion of services, making it one of the largest trading relationships for both parties. “It brings me great joy and pleasure to