We're next in line for Gulf FTA, says Key

Prime Minister John Key says Saudi Arabia is "a bit more cautious" than its Gulf neighbours over a free trade deal. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand should be the next cab off the rank in securing a free-trade deal with the Gulf Co-operation Council, with Prime Minister John Key "much more positive" about it after his recent trip to the region.

Key yesterday said most of the Gulf states were positive about signing off on the deal, although Saudi Arabia was more cautious.

The Gulf states recently completed a free trade agreement (FTA) with Singapore, and Key said New Zealand should be next on the list.

"The impression we got from all of them is that New Zealand is the next cab off the rank," Key said.

"We pushed as hard as we practically could with the Saudis - the others were effusive in their praise of why it should happen, the Saudis were a little more guarded, but I wouldn't take that as negative, I just think that's a slightly different cultural way of dealing with it."

Negotiations for an FTA with Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, who collectively make up the Gulf Co-operation Council, concluded in 2009, though a final signing of a deal has been delayed by concerns over the way a major Saudi investor was treated when New Zealand blocked exports of livestock for slaughter.

Key said that issue had been dealt with, and that the investor was comfortable with New Zealand's position that it would only allow exports of breeding stock.

Saudi Arabia is "always a bit more cautious, so we've talked through what the next steps are and there's a meeting taking place some time later in the year", Key said. "Nothing was clearly identified [as a sticking point], really it's just about whether they want to take the next step."

New Zealand faces tariffs of about 5 per cent in the Gulf states, and Key said an FTA would help deepen business links.