Türkiye–Canada trade talks advance to formal negotiation phase

Türkiye and Canada have formally launched negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) aimed at deepening bilateral economic ties, according to a joint statement issued on Tuesday, July 7.

The announcement followed a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7. During the talks, the two leaders instructed their officials to begin formal negotiations on a “comprehensive, modern and mutually beneficial” trade deal.

The move marks a progression from earlier efforts. In early June, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, issued a joint ministerial statement announcing the start of exploratory discussions toward a potential FTA.

With the launch of formal negotiations, both countries are now advancing to the next stage of the process, the statement said.

The proposed agreement is expected to support economic growth, create jobs, enhance competitiveness, strengthen global supply chains, and expand economic cooperation between Türkiye and Canada.

Technical teams from both sides will work in the coming months to define the scope and objectives of the agreement and prepare for the first round of negotiations.

“Both governments look forward to working together to advance a high-quality agreement that strengthens the Canada–Türkiye partnership and creates new opportunities for prosperity for businesses, workers and people in both countries,” the statement said.

By Tamilla Hasanova