Trade EU and UAE to start talks on comprehensive trade deal The UAE and the European Union are to start negotiations towards a wide-ranging free trade agreement, officials for both sides said. “The UAE shares strong and longstanding ties with the European Union and its member states,” Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s president, said on X. Through a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, or […] April 11, 2025
Editor's Insight Trade Few good options for US-GCC trade – but options nonetheless It is often said that US trading partners have few good options when it comes to dealing with President Trump’s “liberation day” last week. Few good options, yes, but the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council at least have options. Oil and gas are excluded from the new tariff regime – if one can call a bookie’s […] April 10, 2025
Opinion Trade South Africa courts Gulf in $5.5bn infrastructure push Some of the UAE’s leading international investors are already present in the South African market April 10, 2025
Trade Gulf countries start free trade talks with Turkey The Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Turkey have begun talks towards a free trade agreement, the UAE’s state-run Wam news agency reported. Ankara has already signed free trade agreements with the UAE and Qatar, Wam said, citing Turkish trade minister Ömer Bolat. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain are all members of the […] April 9, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil demand growth to halve in wake of Trump tariffs Global growth in demand for oil this year may be as much as 40 percent less than forecast before last week’s announcement by Donald Trump of a near tripling in effective tariff rates on US imports to their highest in a century, S&P and other oil analysts have said. On average, demand for oil was […] April 9, 2025
Energy Gulf partners will have many questions for US energy secretary US energy secretary Chris Wright arrives in the Gulf today at an especially turbulent time in the global economy and as oil prices plunge to more than four-year lows. Wright’s two-week visit to Saudi Arabia – the world’s second-largest oil producer – the UAE and Qatar may be in preparation for Donald Trump’s own trip […] April 9, 2025
Trade Cepa aims to double UAE trade with Republic of the Congo The signing of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa) between the UAE and the Republic of the Congo is projected to more than double non-oil trade between the two nations. Non-oil trade will grow to $7.2 billion by 2032 from $3.1 billion in 2024, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported. The Cepa will eliminate […] April 9, 2025
Opinion Trade Gulf states brace for global trade upheaval US tariffs may dampen GCC growth but could also accelerate regional industrial ambitions April 8, 2025
Analysis Trade US levies render Middle East trade deals worthless, say analysts US president Donald Trump’s global tariff policy has bulldozed through dozens of free-trade agreements, including a handful in the Middle East. The impact on the rules of international commerce could be severe, according to industry watchers. “To take such an abrupt and quick decision from one side, where you have more than 20 years of […] April 8, 2025
Trade Oman says US tariffs will have limited effect on trade New import tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration will have a minimum effect on Oman’s economy, a senior official said. “The US tariffs apply only for our non-energy products and not to our crude oil, gas and refined oil, so there will be limited impact on our finances,” Dr Nasser Al Maawali, the Undersecretary […] April 7, 2025
Trade Turkey favours trade boost with US despite tariffs Turkey aims to increase bilateral trade with the US to $100 billion, despite facing a 10 percent traffic from the Trump administration, according to a news report. Ankara is working towards removing the new tariffs imposed by Washington, Hurriet Daily News an English daily, reported citing trade minister Ömer Bolat. The country is ramping up trade […] April 7, 2025
Opinion Trade The Gulf won’t escape the fallout of Trump’s shock tariffs US tariffs affect regional economies through inflationary pressures, lower oil prices and volatility April 4, 2025
Analysis Trade The golden question: where next for the UAE-India Cepa? Earlier this week it emerged that Abu Dhabi conglomerate International Holding Company (IHC) and a US institutional investor had between them acquired a minority stake of 6 percent in Haldiram’s, an Indian snack maker, valuing the company at $10 billion. The IHC investment contributes to the UAE’s ranking as the seventh-largest foreign direct investor in […] April 4, 2025
Manufacturing Turkey’s auto industry hit hardest by tariffs Turkish exporters expressed mixed feelings on the news of President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. There was relief that most sectors escaped with just a 10 percent impost, but Turkey’s car and parts producers, one of the country’s leading manufacturing and exporting sectors, were much less happy with the 25 percent tariff on all automotive […] April 3, 2025
Trade UAE enters the major league of Turkish export markets Turkey’s exports to the GCC bloc rose sharply in February, driven by a strong increase in shipments to the United Arab Emirates. The UAE figures offset falls in sales to some other GCC member states. The numbers were released before the detention two weeks ago of Istanbul mayor and leading opposition figure Ekrem İmamoğlu, which […] April 3, 2025
Trade Middle East fails to escape Trump’s tariffs US President Donald Trump unveiled far-reaching new tariffs on Wednesday, including on the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East. Speaking from the Rose Garden of the White House, the president outlined a minimum 10 percent universal tariff on all imports into the United States, regardless of origin. This will […] April 3, 2025
Trade Iraq’s trade balance surplus with US at $6bn Iraq has a trade balance surplus of nearly $6 billion with the US, a senior government official has said. This comes from oil exports to the US more than doubling in two years, state-run Iraq News Agency reported, quoting prime minister’s financial advisor Mazhar Mohammed Salih. The trade volume between the two countries has more […] April 2, 2025
Trade China’s investors seek shelter from Trump in Saudi Arabia President Trump’s trade war is strengthening economic ties between Saudi Arabia and China and encouraging Chinese investors to increase their holdings in the kingdom, analysts say. As China and its near neighbours face the imposition of economic tariffs – “the most beautiful word in the world”, according to the 47th president – Saudi Arabia has […] April 2, 2025
Analysis Trade The Gulf must brace for indirect hits from Trump’s tariffs Gulf states may stave off new tariffs US president Donald Trump is expected to announce but the measures’ indirect impact on the global economy and oil prices loom large. The region’s focus, industry watchers say, should be on diversifying trade relationships while embracing the UAE and Saudi Arabia playbook of investing in the United States […] April 2, 2025
Trade Gold hits record high over trade war fears Gold prices scaled a record peak on Friday as concerns over US President Donald Trump’s fresh tariff plans ignited fears of a global trade war, driving a rush towards the safe-haven allure of the precious metal. Spot gold climbed 0.6 percent to $3,073.79 an ounce, as of 02:30 GMT, after hitting an all-time high of $3,077.44 earlier in […] March 28, 2025
Analysis Trade EU customs union makes Turkey a US tariff target Turkey’s customs entanglement with the European Union (EU) makes it vulnerable to retaliatory tariffs from the United States in the months ahead. The White House has collated a “dirty 15” list of countries which it alleges maintain unfair levies on goods and substantial trade surpluses over the US. They are expected to be the first […] March 27, 2025
Finance UAE’s $1.4trn US pledge is political positioning, experts say The UAE’s pledge to invest $1.4 trillion in the US over the next 10 years is about political positioning rather than exact numbers, according to experts. The country committed to a 10-year $1.4 trillion investment in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy and American manufacturing during a meeting in Washington last week, according to a White House announcement. […] March 27, 2025
