clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Israel, UAE sign free trade pact into effect

March 26, 2023 at 6:41 pm

Israeli and United Arab Emirates flags. [JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images]

Israel and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday signed a free trade pact into effect, reducing or removing tariffs on about 96% of goods traded between the nations, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said, Reuters reports.

The countries first reached the agreement last May, promising to boost bilateral trade after they normalized ties in 2020 in a U.S.-brokered deal.

The deal will also allow Israeli companies to gain access to government tenders in the UAE, the ministry said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who on Sunday gave a final signature for the tariff arrangement within the trade pact, said it would “strengthen the connection” with the UAE and that Israel was working to normalize ties with more Arab countries.

READ: Saudi Arabia condemns Israel’s new settlement plans in East Jerusalem