The Turkey–United Kingdom free trade agreement (TUKFTA) is a proposed free trade agreement which began negotiations on 14 March 2024. The trade agreement will be the third FTA to cover Turkey–UK trade, and will supersede the Turkey–UK Trade Continuity Agreement, extending the deal to cover services and digital trade.
History From 31 December 1995 until 30 December 2020, trade between Turkey and the United Kingdom was governed by the European Union–Turkey Customs Union, while the UK was a member of the European Union. Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the UK and Turkey signed a continuity trade agreement on 29 December 2020, based on the EU free trade agreement; the agreement entered into force on 1 January 2021.
Negotiations
+ Turkey–UK FTA Round of Negotiations Round Dates Location Ref. 1 23 June–2 July 2025 Ankara 2 15–19 September 2025 London 3 17–21 November 2025 Ankara 4 23–27 February 2026 London 5 15–23 June 2026 Ankara
On 18 July 2023, Turkey and the United Kingdom announced their intentions start talks on a modernised free trade agreement; the agreement will supersede the goods-only Turkey–United Kingdom Trade Continuity agreement. The UK opened up a trade consultation from 2 November 2023 and close on the 5 January 2024. Trade negotiations formally opened on 14 March 2024. The practical negotiations are scheduled for after the UK general election on 4 July.
The first round of negotiations included discussions covered sustainability and collaboration, including women’s economic empowerment and labour rights, as well as the regulatory environments of both countries; talks were also held on trade in services, focusing on digital, financial, and professional business services.
The second round of negotiations included discussions on digital trade, financial and professional services, and investment, while both sides also advanced talks on goods market access, environmental and labour standards, anti-corruption provisions, dispute settlement, and intellectual property, with productive initial discussions on trade remedies and regulatory practices helping to define future areas of cooperation and strengthen the basis for an updated trade agreement.
See also
Economy of Turkey Economy of the United Kingdom European Union–Turkey Customs Union Free trade agreements of Turkey Free trade agreements of the United Kingdom Foreign relations of Turkey Foreign relations of the United Kingdom Turkey–United Kingdom relations
References
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