UK Wants to Sign Trade Deal With Gulf States

The UK wants to strike a trade deal with countries in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar, as its next move.

That’s according to Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

She said the UK is now in a better place on trade “than any other country in the world”, following major trade deals signed this month with India, the US and the EU.

She also suggested that the prospect of closer trading relationships would boost forecasts for UK growth.

But opposition parties have criticised the government for some of the concessions offered in return for trade deals.

They argue that the government’s next deal may prove politically controversial, given the human rights record of some of the six countries involved.

However, Reeves said the UK was not seeking to have trade negotiations with China, which could raise similar objections.