Britain, Turkiye launch talks on free trade deal

LONDON, Mar 14 (Arab News): Britain and Turkiye will formally launch negotiations on a new Free Trade Agreement on Thursday with a view to including services as well as goods in a new deal.

Britain already has an FTA with Turkiye, which was rolled over when Britain left the EU, but a review by both sides last year concluded there was room for improvement under a new deal.

"We already have a thriving trade relationship that will only get stronger with a new, modernised trade deal," Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said in a statement.

Badenoch said a new deal could give Britain's services sector "a competitive edge in this growing market and has the potential to support jobs across the UK."

The trade ministry said the first round of negotiations with Turkiye, a NATO ally, was expected to take place in the summer.