UK minister heads to Turkey for trade talks
British Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch will travel to Istanbul this Friday for a meeting with her Turkish counterpart, Ömer Bolat, setting the stage for upcoming negotiations on a new free trade agreement later this year.
The United Kingdom and Turkey, acknowledging the potential to enhance their current trade pact, which persisted after the UK left the European Union, are looking to expand its scope.
"I am excited to be in Turkey to discuss refining our existing trade agreement to better align with 21st-century demands," Badenoch said. She emphasized the potential benefits for the UK's services sector from an updated deal.
"Turkey presents significant opportunities for UK businesses," Badenoch added. "I look forward to initiating discussions to ensure our revitalized trade relationship with Turkey maximizes these prospects."
In addition to Turkey, the UK is in the midst of advanced trade talks with India and plans to progress negotiations in 2024 on service-oriented trade agreements with Switzerland, Mexico, and South Korea.
Badenoch's itinerary in Istanbul includes a visit to Turkish Airlines. The airline's plan to buy 220 Airbus jets marks a significant deal for the UK, involving domestically produced Airbus and Rolls-Royce components and ranking as one of the UK's most substantial export agreements to date.
