EU courts Gulf countries for free trade deal as Brussels seeks to counter tariffs

European officials have called for the negotiation of a free-trade agreement between the European Union and the Gulf nations to be fast-tracked, as the bloc looks to diversify trade ties worldwide to counter the impact of US tariffs and an inundation of Chinese exports. Speaking at a panel discussion moderated by Euronews at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Silina said the EU should reach out to new partners in a pragmatic fashion. “This is a good, historical time for Europe to strengthen new partnerships,” she said on Thursday. “Pragmatic, new partnerships for a market of…