site.btaTurkish Foreign Minister Fidan: Turkyie, UK to Broaden Free Trade Agreement Scope

The scope of the Free Trade Agreement between the Turkiye and the UK will be broadened, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Wednesday in a joint press conference with his British counterpart James Cleverly in Ankara, quoted by the Anadolu Agency. 

UK’s Foreign Secretary Cleverly arrived Wednesday on an official visit to Turkiye. 

"We are about to finalize the preparations for an expansion of the scope of the Free Trade Agreement," Fidan said Wednesday, adding that the idea was to increase the exchange of goods between his country and Britain, which approximated USD 20 billion in 2022. The current trade agreement was signed in December 2020. 

Fidan and Cleverly also exchanged views on regional and international matters, including the Ukraine war, restoration of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the conflict in Syria, and developments in Cyprus.

"UK's Foreign Secretary and I both believe that the grain corridor needs to resume operations in the light of the ongoing war in Ukraine," Fidan said. 

Cleverly stressed that London highly appreciated Turkiye's efforts related to the Black Sea Grain Initiative. He referred to Turkiye as an indispensable partner to the UK and "crucial for our collective security and well-being". It is important for Europe, the region, and the world as a whole, he added.