Negotiations to replace the existing UK-Türkiye free trade agreement (FTA), which was rolled over when the UK left the EU, began in July 2023 and another week of talks recently took place in London.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) confirmed that this fourth round of negotiations were productive, with positive progress being made in a number of areas including investment, digital trade, telecommunications, cross‑border trade in services, customs and trade facilitation, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
Progress was made in a number of other areas including intellectual property, government procurement, anti‑corruption, labour, environment, state‑owned enterprises and dispute settlement.
The DBT argues that stronger trade relationship with Türkiye will support jobs and prosperity in the UK, with trade between the two totalling £28.3 billion in the 12 months ending in September 2025, representing an increase of 5.8% from the previous 12 months.
Trade Secretary, Peter Kyle, said: “Economic growth is our first mission in government, and FTAs have an important role to play in achieving this.”
He added that the fifth round of negotiations is expected to take place before summer, probably in Türkiye.
