UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement boosts UK growth and trade

The UK Government has announced the conclusion/signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

• Main announcement: The UK-GCC FTA will eliminate duties worth an estimated £580 million a year on current UK goods exports to the GCC when fully implemented, with £360 million removed on day one; it is estimated to add £3.7 billion to UK GDP annually in the long run and £1.9 billion a year to real wages, while combined with the India FTA the two deals are estimated to add over £8 billion a year versus 2040 projections. The agreement secures ambitious tariff cuts, business mobility commitments, digital provisions (including prohibiting unjustified data localisation), and investor protections with independent dispute recourse.
• Context and details: The announcement highlights trade and investment protections across services, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, life sciences and digital trade; it references £485 billion total UK–Gulf investment assets (end of 2024), specific sector examples (e.g., £1.4 billion of car exports in 2025), and customs commitments (customs clearance within 48 hours, perishable goods under 6 hours). The text includes numerous stakeholder statements (industry bodies, banks, tech and climate firms) and cites the ONS Pink Book as an investment data source.