Turkey and Canada Agree to Launch Free Trade Talks

Turkey and Canada have taken a significant step toward deepening their economic ties by agreeing to initiate exploratory talks for a Free Trade Agreement. The decision was reached during a meeting between Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and his Canadian counterpart, Maninder Sidhu.

This move signals a mutual commitment to elevate the bilateral trade and investment relationship to a higher level. The agreement to commence these talks reflects a shared vision to fully realize the potential of their commercial partnership. The discussions were spurred by a recent phone conversation between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Beyond trade, the ministers expressed satisfaction with expanding the scope of the Air Transport Agreement. This expansion is expected to create new opportunities for travelers, business people, and exporters, strengthening commercial ties and economic connections between the two nations.

Energy cooperation emerged as another key agenda item. Both sides explored opportunities in renewable energy and agreed to examine Canada's CANDU nuclear reactor technology. This technology could potentially contribute to Turkey's goals of diversifying its energy sources.

Furthermore, Turkey and Canada are exploring closer collaboration in the aviation and space sectors. The aim is to foster investment and technological advancement through partnerships in defense, security, and related industries. Both countries also agreed to continue high-level reciprocal visits.