Story perspectives

Canada and Turkey Launch Free-Trade Talks Next Month

By Drooid · Oct 24, 2026, 10:39 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Prime Minister Mark Carney met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, the first Canadian prime ministerial visit to Turkey.
Carney and Erdogan signed cooperation agreements on defense, energy, and air transport.
Negotiators will start the first round of free-trade talks in Ankara next month.
Passenger flights will increase from 12 to 21 per week, with no limit on cargo flights.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, Canada and Turkey signed the Canada–Turkey Free Trade Agreement, launching their first comprehensive bilateral trade pact. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and President Süleyman Demirel reported that the accord lifted annual trade from roughly US$1.5 billion to $2.5 billion within five years. Mark Carney’s Ankara meeting mirrors that 1995 breakthrough, as both leaders pursue expanded defense, energy, and air-transport cooperation under renewed free-trade talks. The precedent suggests that deeper economic integration could boost bilateral cargo flights from 12 to 21 weekly, reinforcing NATO strategic ties and regional commerce.

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Story summary

Prime Minister Mark Carney met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, the first Canadian prime ministerial visit to Turkey.
Carney and Erdogan signed cooperation agreements on defense, energy, and air transport.
Negotiators will start the first round of free-trade talks in Ankara next month.
Passenger flights will increase from 12 to 21 per week, with no limit on cargo flights.

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