Stories

Thu, 21 May 2026

Thu, 21 May 2026 UK agrees £3.7bn trade deal with six Gulf states

The deal will remove an estimated £580m worth of tariffs from British exports, but rights groups are critical

* A trade deal worth £3.7bn has been struck between the UK and six Gulf states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.
* The deal will remove an estimated £580m a year in tariffs from British exports to the region.
* It is expected to support jobs by making it easier for British firms to expand and partner in the Gulf.
* Tariffs on products such as cheddar cheese, butter, and chocolate will be removed.
* This is the third trade deal struck by the current government, after those with India and South Korea.
* The deal has been welcomed by business leaders, but criticized by activist groups for lacking detail on human rights and labour protections.