Brussels, 04/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - From Muscat, in the Emirate of Oman, a European official said the Union would not relaunch trade liberalisation negotiations with the Gulf countries - which have been at a standstill for months - until Saudi Arabia joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Questioned by Reuters on the fringe of a regional economic conference, a European Commission senior official, André Sapir, said the Union expected a bit more than a customs union between the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to conclude a free-trade agreement with the body. "The main conditions are customs union and Saudi Arabia's membership of the WTO. Only then can normal negotiations be held concerning the degree of liberalisation to be granted for each product and a timeframe", he told Reuters. Shortly earlier, Oman's Minister of Trade and Industry Makboul Bin Ail Bin Sultan, had voiced hope that negotiations with the Union could open once customs union has been established, early next year. "The EU has clearly stated that the agreement would be concluded after customs union which I believe will become a reality within 6 to 9 months", he commented.