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The Gulf Co-operation Council

The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), signed an Economic Cooperation Agreement in 1988 which laid the framework for the elaboration of a bilateral regional trade agreement between the two regional blocs. Formal negotiations began in 1990 but there have been obstacles that prevented the achievement of a final agreement. However, negotiations have progressed under and since the UK’s 2005 Presidency of the EU and both sides are now hopeful of a successful conclusion to negotiations by the end of this year or by early to mid 2007.

On the basis of the EU negotiating directives, the proposed Regional Trade Agreement (RTA) would provide for a progressive and reciprocal liberalisation of trade in goods and services aiming at assuring a comparable level of market access opportunities, consistent with the relevant provisions of the WTO and taking into account the level of development of the GCC countries. The RTA, therefore, ultimately aims at fostering economic integration between the parties, with a view to diversifying and increasing the mutual trade in a sustainable manner.

More information on the EU GCC relationship can be found on the European Commission's External relations website (see external links on right of this page)

Contact:

Please note that if you are looking for help with exporting from the UK to the Gulf countries you should contact UK Trade and Investment, the Government's advice service to exporters and inward investors (see related links on right hand side).

If you are looking for help with importing from the Gulf countries into the UK , please contact the export promotion agency of the country in which you reside, or for specific details on tariff and duty charges please contact HMRC - Revenue and Customs (see related links on right hand side).

For all other queries about the EU-GCC negotiations please contact:

Sue Blackwell,       e-mail: sue.blackwell@berr.gsi.gov.uk or

Jonathan Tostevin, e-mail: jonathan.tostevin@berr.gsi.gov.uk