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First Round of Free Trade Negotiations between Gulf States, Türkiye Begins in Ankara

The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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First Round of Free Trade Negotiations between Gulf States, Türkiye Begins in Ankara

The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Ankara is set to host on Monday the first round of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council and Türkiye.

The talks will extend over three days, with the participation of nine Saudi government agencies, and will focus on a number of topics related to trade in goods and services, investment, technical barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Conferees are set to exchange information and data, discuss challenges and trade opportunities between the concerned parties, and build trust and partnership by identifying areas of cooperation and joint coordination, with the aim of reaching a final comprehensive agreement.

The Saudi government delegation, which is headed by the General Authority for Foreign Trade, includes the Ministries of Energy, Investment, Environment, Water, Agriculture, Industry and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the Food and Drug General Authority, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Authority, and the Export Development Authority.

The agreement, when implemented, will give a preferential advantage for the entry of national goods and services into the markets of all concerned parties, in addition to facilitating, encouraging and protecting investments, raising the volume of trade exchange and promoting economic growth and development in the member countries.

The GCC Secretary-General, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, and the Turkish Minister of Trade, Omer Bolat, signed on March 21 a joint statement to launch the negotiations for a free trade agreement in Ankara, highlighting the two sides’ endeavor to develop their strategic partnership.

In a speech during the signing ceremony, Bolat said he was confident of the success of the talks.

He noted that the negotiations between his country and the GCC began in 2005, but were suspended in 2010, stressing that the bilateral economic relations will be more comprehensive and well-defined, and will offer opportunities for development and diversification.

Bolat added that Türkiye attached great importance to a comprehensive deal that regulates important areas such as trade in goods and services, intellectual property rights and customs procedures, as well as facilitating trade and developing cooperation between small and medium-sized companies.

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Firm Dollar Keeps Pound, Euro and Yen Under Pressure

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
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Firm Dollar Keeps Pound, Euro and Yen Under Pressure

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo

The US dollar charged ahead on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields, putting the yen, sterling and euro under pressure near multi-month lows amid the shifting threat of tariffs.

The focus for markets in 2025 has been on US President-elect Donald Trump's agenda as he steps back into the White House on Jan. 20, with analysts expecting his policies to both bolster growth and add to price pressures, according to Reuters.

CNN on Wednesday reported that Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency to provide legal justification for a series of universal tariffs on allies and adversaries. On Monday, the Washington Post said Trump was looking at more nuanced tariffs, which he later denied.

Concerns that policies introduced by the Trump administration could reignite inflation has led bond yields higher, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note hitting 4.73% on Wednesday, its highest since April 25. It was at 4.6709% on Thursday.

"Trump's shifting narrative on tariffs has undoubtedly had an effect on USD. It seems this capriciousness is something markets will have to adapt to over the coming four years," said Kieran Williams, head of Asia FX at InTouch Capital Markets.

The bond market selloff has left the dollar standing tall and casting a shadow on the currency market.

Among the most affected was the pound, which was headed for its biggest three-day drop in nearly two years.

Sterling slid to $1.2239 on Thursday, its weakest since November 2023, even as British government bond yields hit multi-year highs.

Ordinarily, higher gilt yields would support the pound, but not in this case.

The sell-off in UK government bond markets resumed on Thursday, with 10-year and 30-year gilt yields jumping again in early trading, as confidence in Britain's fiscal outlook deteriorates.

"Such a simultaneous sell-off in currency and bonds is rather unusual for a G10 country," said Michael Pfister, FX analyst at Commerzbank.

"It seems to be the culmination of a development that began several months ago. The new Labour government's approval ratings are at record lows just a few months after the election, and business and consumer sentiment is severely depressed."

Sterling was last down about 0.69% at $1.2282.

The euro also eased, albeit less than the pound, to $1.0302, lurking close to the two-year low it hit last week as investors remain worried the single currency may fall to the key $1 mark this year due to tariff uncertainties.

The yen hovered near the key 160 per dollar mark that led to Tokyo intervening in the market last July, after it touched a near six-month low of 158.55 on Wednesday.

Though it strengthened a bit on the day and was last at 158.15 per dollar. That all left the dollar index, which measures the US currency against six other units, up 0.15% and at 109.18, just shy of the two-year high it touched last week.

Also in the mix were the Federal Reserve minutes of its December meeting, released on Wednesday, which showed the central bank flagged new inflation concerns and officials saw a rising risk the incoming administration's plans may slow economic growth and raise unemployment.

With US markets closed on Thursday, the spotlight will be on Friday's payrolls report as investors parse through data to gauge when the Fed will next cut rates.