GAFT Heads the Saudi Negotiating Team in the Second Round of Free Trade Agreement Negotiations Between the GCC and Japan

The Saudi General Authority of Foreign Trade represented by Mr. Fareed Al-Asaly, Deputy Governor for International Organizations and Agreements and Head of the Saudi Negotiating Team, is leading Saudi Arabia’s delegation participating in the second round of the Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Japan, held in Tokyo, Japan, from 30 June to 4 July 2025.

The Saudi negotiating team is tasked with overseeing and following up on the progress of trade negotiations to ensure alignment with KSA’s trade objectives and policies. The team also actively participates in the negotiations to incorporate KSA’s official positions on various trade matters.

The Saudi negotiating team comprises nine technical sub-teams covering the following areas: goods, services, investment, general texts and provisions, e-commerce, intellectual property, government procurement, rules of origin, and economic assessment. These sub-teams, which include representatives from 46 government entities, are responsible for formulating and coordinating KSA’s negotiation positions, preparing insights and recommendations on WTO initiatives and FTA negotiations, and submitting the necessary reports to the main negotiating team.

The trade volume between KSA and Japan reached approximately USD 36 billion in 2024. KSA’s top exports included mineral products and organic chemical products, while Japan’s main exports to KSA included automobiles and their parts, as well as machinery and related components. Saudi exports to Japan totaled around USD 28 billion, while imports from Japan stood at approximately USD 8 billion.

GAFT plays a key role in enhancing KSA’s international trade gains, increasing its global presence, and ensuring effective participation in international organizations, all in support of achieving common goals and promoting sustainable development.