UAE Economy Minister: Opportunities for Cooperation with Israel in Vital Sectors

UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri. WAM
UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri. WAM
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UAE Economy Minister: Opportunities for Cooperation with Israel in Vital Sectors

UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri. WAM
UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri. WAM

UAE’s Minister of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, has said that the peace accord between his country and Israel would open up new horizons for economic cooperation to serve their mutual interests and enhance the foundations for sustainable development in the region.

The Minister said Tuesday that the deal stimulates trade and investment cooperation between the UAE and Israel, and the region.

He further highlighted the new business opportunities that would be made available under the deal.

"We have promising opportunities for cooperation in vital sectors that serve the two countries' future economic development agendas. These include medicines, energy, life sciences, food security, financial services, tourism and travel, in addition to the fields of space, defense, security, research and development,” said Al Marri.

He was speaking in a webinar hosted by the American-Emirati Business Council and the US-Israel Business Initiative of the American Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the Trade and Commercial Office of the UAE Embassy in Washington.

The webinar was attended by more than 500 business council and chamber members, most prominently the US-UAE Business Council, the US-Israel Business Initiative, and directors of several multinational companies.

During the webinar, Al Marri said that the UAE and Israel will work together to explore areas of cooperation and jointly develop vital partnership projects between business communities in both countries.

"The outcomes of signing this historic accord will pave the way for new business and investment opportunities, generating new cash flows and robust business activities that will provide immediate benefits to the UAE and Israel. The private sectors in both countries, as well as the regional economies, will undoubtedly benefit from this accord," Emirates News Agency (WAM) quoted him as saying.

He added: "American businesses play a pivotal role in establishing the economic and commercial ties between UAE and Israel, and the American investors and companies can be major players in this regard and serve as vital links by functioning out of their headquarters and offices located in the UAE and Israel."

Furthermore, he elaborated on the main plans and objectives adopted by the UAE government for the upcoming phase, highlighting the government’s general plan and a package of 33 initiatives to support the national economy and promote sustainability, WAM reported.

"Our efforts and initiatives in this regard are part of our vision to overcome the economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, promote growth, support business activities across all key sectors, enhance national economy’s resilience and competitiveness, and develop a long-term economic development model," the minister concluded.



Trump Vows New Tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China

FILE PHOTO: US President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, US, November 19, 2024. Brandon Bell/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, US, November 19, 2024. Brandon Bell/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
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Trump Vows New Tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China

FILE PHOTO: US President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, US, November 19, 2024. Brandon Bell/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, US, November 19, 2024. Brandon Bell/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

US President-elect Donald Trump vowed on Monday to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.

He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders.

In a series of posts to his Truth Social account, Trump vowed to hit some of the United States' largest trading partners with duties on all goods entering the country.

“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% tariff on ALL products coming into the United States,” he wrote, according to AFP.

He said the new tariffs would remain in place “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”

The President ignored the US, Mexico and Canada three-decade-old free trade agreement, now called the USMCA.

In another post, Trump said he would also be slapping China with a 10% tariff, “above any additional Tariffs,” in response to what he said was its failure to tackle fentanyl smuggling.

“No one will win a trade war,” Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for China's embassy in the United States, told AFP by email, defending Beijing's efforts to curb fentanyl smuggling.

“China believes that China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature,” Liu added.

Canada said it was “essential” to US energy supplies, and insisted the relationship benefits American workers.

“We will of course continue to discuss these issues with the incoming administration,” said the statement from Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Tariffs are a key part of Trump's economic agenda, with the Republican vowing wide-ranging duties on allies and adversaries alike while he was on the campaign trail.

Many economists have warned that tariffs would hurt growth and push up inflation, since they are primarily paid by importers bringing the goods into the US, who often pass those costs on to consumers.

But those in Trump's inner circle have insisted that the tariffs are a useful bargaining chip for the US to push its trading partners to agree to more favorable terms, and to bring back manufacturing jobs from overseas.