Turkey should make free trade deal with EU

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

The Customs Union Agreement between Turkey and the European Union works against Turkey, Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan said yesterday, adding that Turkey should make a free trade agreement with the EU under these conditions.

Çağlayan said that Turkey was excluded from the free trade agreements that the EU signed with third parties and this caused unfair competition, during his meeting with the Danish Minister of Trade and European Affairs Nick Haekkerup.

The free trade deals between the EU and third parties have enabled these other countries’ goods to enter Turkish markets via Europe with zero duties, yet the decision to provide the same privileges to Turkey is up to the third party.

“We need your support to [convince] the EU to abandon its two-faced manner. If the EU doesn’t show progress on this issue, then we should make a free trade agreement” he said.