The General Authority for Foreign Trade (GAFT), represented by the International Organizations and Agreements Agency, held a virtual workshop on trade in services within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. The workshop was designed for newly appointed members of the Saudi Technical Negotiating Team for Services from various government entities across the Kingdom, with the aim of preparing them to effectively perform their roles and enhance their active participation in the team’s work.

The workshop aimed to raise awareness of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) under the WTO framework by introducing its scope and core concepts, explaining the modes of supply and their practical applications, and outlining the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitments under the Agreement, including market access and national treatment obligations. It also highlighted the significance of trade in services within Free Trade Agreements and its role in promoting economic development.

 GAFT chairs the Saudi Technical Negotiating Team, which comprises nine technical working groups representing various government entities. These groups cover goods, services, investment, government procurement, legal texts and provisions, e-commerce, rules of origin, intellectual property, and economic assessment. The team is responsible for overseeing and monitoring trade negotiations to ensure alignment with the Kingdom’s trade objectives and policies, following up on international trade dispute settlement matters, reviewing the recommendations of the technical working groups regarding proposed measures to endure the Kingdom and its trading partners fulfill their commitments, as well as carrying out other responsibilities related to the team’s mandate.

The Kingdom’s Free Trade Agreements contribute to expanding market access for Saudi exports, enabling them to enter new international markets and supporting the growth of the national economy. Saudi Arabia currently has five trade agreements, including Free Trade Agreements with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Singapore, in addition to the Arab Agreement on Liberalization of Trade in Services, the Economic Agreement among the GCC States, and the Agreement on Facilitation and Promotion of Trade Exchange among Arab Countries.

GAFT invited all interested stakeholders to explore the details of these agreements through the Trade Agreements section on its official website (https://gaft.gov.sa/مركز-المعرفة/الاتفاقيات-التجارية).

It is worth mentioning that GAFT is responsible for all matters related to the Kingdom’s trade agreements and trade policies concerning foreign trade. It works to facilitate the access of Saudi exports to international markets, open new export destinations, and eliminate external trade barriers facing Saudi exporters, thereby strengthening the Kingdom’s international trade gains, safeguarding its trade interests, and contributing to the growth of the national economy.