Turkey will retaliate, but stay open to dialogue with US: Minister
ANKARA
Turkey will continue retaliating against U.S. sanctions but will stay open to dialogue and cooperation, Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said at a meeting organized by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) in the capital Ankara on Aug. 17.
“We have retaliated [against U.S. sanctions] in accordance with the World Trade Organization rules and we will continue to retaliate,” she said, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.
Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on two government ministers for not releasing American pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.
Pekcan also criticized the U.S. for acting politically in economic matters.
“The U.S. has been taking unilateral steps. We have been witnessing that the U.S. has been confusing political issues with economic cooperation matters. This has been affecting not only the U.S. economy but also the world economy negatively. We hope that our U.S. friends will see these realities very soon and take constructive steps. We are open to dialogue and cooperation with them as always,” Reuters quoted Pekcan as saying.
