TOKYO: Heading the Kingdom’s delegation to the second round of negotiations on the free trade agreement between the GCC and Japan, which started on June 30 and will end on July 4, is Farid bin Saeed Al-Asali, the deputy governor for international agreements and organisations in the General Authority for Foreign Trade.
Nine technical teams specialising in commodities, services, investment, e-commerce, intellectual property, and government procurement are part of the Saudi negotiation team, according to GAFT.
The teams, comprising 46 government entities, prepare the Kingdom’s stances on proposals and discussions in the World Trade Organisation and free trade agreements. They also provide the negotiating team with pertinent reports.
The value of commerce between Saudi Arabia and Japan was around $36 billion in 2024. Products made from minerals and organic chemicals were the Kingdom’s top exports. On the other hand, machinery and mechanical tools, as well as cars and auto parts, were the main imports from Japan. All things considered, Saudi Arabia imported roughly $8 billion and exported about $28 billion.
To ensure that trade talks align with the Kingdom’s trade goals and policies, the Saudi team supervises and tracks their development. The team’s participation is crucial to the process, as they also take part in the talks to incorporate the Kingdom’s perspectives.
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