As part of a broader push by the Gulf states towards Asia, the United Arab Emirates inked a new trade agreement with South Korea the day after it left OPEC, lowering tariffs on the majority of traded goods, aiming to enhance trade and strengthen economic ties between the two nations.
At a time when supply chains and broader geopolitical factors are altering international trade, the accord is South Korea’s first trade agreement with a nation in the Gulf Cooperation Council and the larger Middle East and North Africa region.
To facilitate access to each other’s markets and promote trade and investment flows, the UAE and South Korea signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which eliminates or reduces tariffs on 91.2% of goods traded between the two nations. In 2025, non-oil commerce between South Korea and the United Arab Emirates reached $6.9 billion (about €6.3 billion), and officials anticipate continued development.
According to Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, the deal would boost collaboration in a number of industries, including technology, manufacturing, and logistics, and open up new prospects for exporters.
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