Malaysia leads FTA talks with GCC nations as Asean Summit begins, negotiations start May 27

AI Summary

Malaysia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are expected to begin free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations on May 27, 2025. Discussions are ongoing, with negotiations planned to commence during the ASEAN-GCC Summit in Kuala Lumpur. The summit, hosted by Malaysia as 2025 ASEAN Chair, will also feature the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, fostering regional and inter-regional cooperation. The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.