U.S.-Turkey Trade Relations

Event Date: 

Friday, May 9, 2014 – 12:00 to 14:00

Location: 

Baker & McKenzie (452 5th Ave)

Dr. Kemal Kirisci of the Brookings Institution will speak on U.S.-Turkey trade relations as well as the importance of including Turkey in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

Presentation Abstract:

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) if successfully negotiated and concluded will create a deeply integrated marked commanding 45 percent of world GDP and close to 25 percent of world trade. TTIP aspires to go beyond just trade liberalization but also harmonize regulatory issues both with respect to trade and investments. Turkey is deeply integrated with the EU through its customs union. Impact studies show that a Turkey left outside TTIP will be economically adversely affected. Yet, it is not just economic relations that would be at risk here. TTIP has also an important geo-strategic dimension to it. Excluding Turkey from TTIP risks weakening Turkey’s connections to the Transatlantic community and commitment to the values of this community. How could these economic and political challenges be met? Are there ways in which Turkey could be engaged by TTIP? Could TTIP become a vehicle for re-anchoring Turkey into the Transatlantic community? Against the crisis unfolding in Ukraine these are critical questions for the EU and the U.S. too. The talk will try to discuss these questions.