GCC talks

The UK has started free trade agreement (FTA) talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Solicitors’ leaders hope legal services will be a priority in discussions. Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce welcomed the talks and said “[A]n FTA between the UK and the GCC could create great opportunities for UK services and businesses”. She acknowledged: “The negotiators will be faced with the challenge of handling significant commitments across the region in discussing a GCC-wide agreement. The different jurisdictions provide varying levels of market access and regulatory regimes for legal service providers”.