Bahraini- Saudi meeting to discuss trade disputes

The Saudi crown prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz met with the King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khalifa in al-Dammam yesterday in an attempt to solve the differences over the free trade agreement finalized by Manama with the USA. A difference that overwhelmed the GCC summit held last week in Manama and was boycotted by crown prince Abdullah.

Earlier, one Bahraini official announced that Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa will be making talks today in Riyadh with the Saudi crown prince dealing with economic files between the two states.

The official who asked to be anonymous said that the talks deals with bilateral relations in the first place and it will deal eventually with economic files.

Differences erupted between Riyadh and Manama following the signing of a free trade agreement with the USA in September. This issue also overwhelmed the meetings of the GCC summit which was held last week in al-Manama and no decisive result was reached.

The agreement between the USA and Bahrain cancels foreign customs tariff and gives Washington trade privileges at the expense of other countries of the GCC which approved defining customs tariff at 5%.

News reports said earlier this month that Kuwait succeeded in containing the Saudi- Bahraini conflict.