Turkey has agreed to negotiate a comprehensive free trade agreement with the UK after Britain completes its exit from the EU, Ankara’s economy minister has said.
In a statement to local press on Thursday, Turkey’s Nihat Zeybekci said the two countries had agreed to “implement a wide-ranging trade agreement”, after Britain’s exit procedures with Brussels are completed.
The UK is not allowed formally to enter trade negotiations with any third country as long as it remains a member of the EU’s customs union. Prime Minister Theresa May and her ministers have refused to say whether they will seek an exit from the customs union as part of the country’s Brexit strategy.
A customs union allows for the free movement of goods within the area while imposing a single administrative and tariff barrier at its external border. Although it is not a member of the EU, Turkey is part of the bloc’s customs union for goods.
Last month, UK foreign minister Boris Johnson said Britain wanted a “jumbo” trade deal with Turkey, praising the country’s manufacture of “very well functioning” washing machines.
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