US-Turkey deal roadmap to be formed

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan is meeting with Turkey’s top private sector representatives and Turkish-American business organization executives today to brief them about the government’s measures to pressure for a free trade agreement with the United States.

The future roadmap for Turkey to pursue regarding the issue will be decided before the Turkish prime minister’s planned May U.S. visit during today’s meeting, participated in by the presidents and deputy presidents of a number of top organizations including TİM, TOBB, TUSİAD, TUSKON, MÜSİAD, Turkish-American Business Council and American Business Forum in Turkey.

Turkey has been expressing concerns over the damage a possible EU-U.S. free trade agreement – which they have agreed to talk about – could have on the Turkish economy as the deal would drag Turkey in at a disadvantageous position. Turkey has kicked off lobbying for a parallel deal with the United States as it has been striving against being left outside the process.