A free trade deal with the Middle East countries belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council has come at the right time for exporters. 

The FTA's expected to provide a sizable boost to the annual $3 billion of two-way trade. 

If treated as one country, all six countries —including Saudi Arabia and the UAE— would be New Zealand's seventh-largest export destination by value. 

Former trade negotiator Charles Finny told Ryan Bridge the timing couldn't be better. 

He says the demand for exports into China is slowing down and there's uncertainty ahead of the US election. 

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