UK’s Johnson voices hopes for ‘jumbo’ free trade deal with Turkey, praising Turkish-made products

ANKARA

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he hoped for a “jumbo” new free trade deal with Turkey after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, praising the quality of Turkey-made products - including his washing machine at home. 

“What I hope for is a jumbo free trade deal between the United Kingdom and Turkey,” Johnson told reporters at a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. 

“We are leaving the EU, but we are not leaving Europe,” he added.

While Ankara is not a member of the European Union, it aspires to join the bloc and has a customs union with it.

Underlining the strength of the bilateral relationship even after the vote to leave the EU, Johnson noted that the iconic biscuits “that he grew up on as a child” were now owned by Turkish confectionary giant Ülker.
Johnson also praised the high quality of other Turkey-made products, noting that the U.K. is one of the largest markets for these products.

“We are happy in the United Kingdom to be one of the biggest recipients of Turkish goods. I am the proud owner of a digital, very well-functioning Turkish washing machine,” Johnson told reporters at another news conference in Ankara late Sept. 26, as quoted by Reuters. 

As another example of the strong relationship between the two countries, he said Turkey every year receives 2.5 million British tourists.

“It’s an extraordinary act of kindness, if I may say. I hope they [the tourists] behave themselves. Well, I am sure they do,” Johnson said.