Gulf Co-operation Council Mr. Lidington To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his Department's policy is on negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EU and the Gulf Co-operation Council; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Thomas The UK would support the completion of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and the Gulf Co-operation Council, which have been ongoing since 1989. Progress was made in the technical negotiations at the end of last year, and the UK supports continuation of this effort. However, there remain outstanding issues, which we would need to see resolved before negotiations are completed, in particular with regard to the key political clauses, and with regard to the imposition of export duties in Gulf States.