But Gulf nation sources said the two-month dispute between Qatar and three other Gulf states has put planning for the summit on hold. In 2016, UK trade with GCC states stood at £30bn, higher than its exports to China and more than double those to India. A UK-GCC trade working group has already been set up, looking at the Singapore-GCC trade deal as a potential model. The Gulf states have no free-trade deal with the EU after talks stalled in 2008, partly over human rights issues. The question mark over the planned London summit underlines the extent to which all sides fear the Gulf dispute will last for a long time.

Source: The Guardian August 09, 2017 03:56 UTC