Europe Top Stories Trending Now Turkey UK

UK, Turkey all set to sign free trade deal

LONDON, United Kingdom: The United Kingdom and Turkey are set to sign a deal on Tuesday to extend their trading arrangements, making it the first since British Prime Minister Boris Johnson secured a new trade agreement with the European Union.

The UK-Turkey deal would replicate the existing trading terms between Ankara and London, but British trade minister Liz Truss said on Sunday that she was hopeful a bespoke arrangement between the countries could be struck soon.

“The deal we expect to sign this week locks in tariff-free trading arrangements and will help support our trading relationship. It will provide certainty for thousands of jobs across the UK in the manufacturing, automotive and steel industries,” Truss said in a statement.

“We now look forward to working with Turkey towards an ambitious tailor-made UK-Turkey trade agreement in the near future.”

The trading relationship was worth 18.6 billion pounds ($25.25 billion) in 2019, and the UK said it was the fifth-biggest trade deal the trade ministry had negotiated after agreements with Japan, Canada, Switzerland and Norway.

The UK has now signed trade agreements with 62 countries ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period on January 1, when it leaves the EU’s trading arrangements.

The agreement is expected to be signed on a video call this week by representatives from each side. An exchange of diplomatic notes will then allow the deal to come into force even though there is not enough time for it to be ratified by the two countries’ parliaments before the UK leaves the EU single market on December 31.

Liz Truss, international trade secretary, said: “The deal we expect to sign this week locks in tariff-free trading arrangements and will help support our trading relationship, worth £18.6bn last year. It will provide certainty for thousands of jobs across the UK in the manufacturing, automotive and steel industries.”

The UK is Turkey’s second-biggest export market but Ankara’s customs union with the EU meant that a free trade agreement could not be finalised until a Brexit deal was in place. That raised fears among Turkish producers of white goods, cars and textiles that their products could be facing hefty import tariffs and UK border delays if Britain crashed out of the 27-member bloc.

One British official said there was an “immediate sense of relief” at the agreement, adding that both Turkish manufacturers and their British counterparts had been anxious about the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. “The UK is the biggest export market for home appliances that are manufactured in Turkey,” said Hakan Bulgurlu, chief executive of Turkish manufacturer Arcelik, which trades under the name Beko in Europe.

“We welcome the efforts to quickly finalise a free trade agreement between Turkey and the UK that will maintain the essence of our no-tariff, no-quota partnership.”

The deal seeks to replicate the trading terms that currently exist between the UK and Turkey, with tariff-free trade on all non-agricultural goods, according to British officials.

The UK has also agreed to roll over the preferential tariffs that Turkey enjoys on some agricultural products under its customs union with the EU. The agreement contains a review clause that requires the two nations to reconvene within the next two years to discuss expanding the deal further to include services, including digital services, and more liberal regulations on trade and agriculture.

Ankara has for years sought a similar upgrade to its customs agreement with the EU but the process has stalled as the relationship between president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European leaders has deteriorated. Many members of the bloc are alarmed by what they see as the Turkish leader’s growing authoritarianism at home and aggressive foreign policy.

The UK official said it would be easier for Britain to take a “pragmatic” approach with Turkey, adding that an upgraded free trade deal would be “win-win” for both countries.

Turkish officials did not respond to requests for comment. The country’s trade minister, Ruhsar Pekcan, confirmed on Sunday that a draft deal between the two countries was “ready for signing”, adding that Ankara was in discussions with both the EU and the UK on how to accelerate the completion process.

Dear TNT Reader,

At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.

Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.

But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.

Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.

Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription

Visa Card MasterCard American Express Card

We want to hear your Travel Stories.

Do you have a memorable, unbelievable, or favorite travel experience? Share your story with us.