Israel, GCC trade pact talks lose steam, UK FTA likely to be implemented by May

The proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK, signed on July 2025, is likely to be implemented by early May with both sides "sorting out a few issues", an official said Thursday, while the EU has indicated November as the timeline for ratification of the trade pact with India with its implementation expected this year itself.

The trade talks with Israel and six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have slowed amid the ongoing conflict in the region.

On the proposed trade agreement with the US, the official said the trade agreement "stands" but "any trade agreement is based on preferential market access versus competitors".