02.12.2017 Washington / USA
Following strained relations between Turkey and the the US, TOBB has sent a delegation to the USA. Led by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the TOBB delegation met with important figures from the world of economics and politics. TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We will continue our collaborative work with the US Chamber of Commerce, which we are currently in talks with, to address the issues and opportunities for bilateral trade and investment, particularly with regard to the free trade agreement.”
The delegation led by TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, in the US to
develop commercial relations and support foreign lobby activities of Turkey, held
talks with members of the US State Department, the Ministry of Commerce, the
Chamber of Commerce and the Representatives Assembly of the US Congress.
Hisarcıklıoğlu's trip to the United States, including Washington and Chicago,
was part of a memorandum of understanding agreement signed between the TOBB and
the US Chamber of Commerce, signed in Ankara in October with President Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan acting as witness.
Evaluating the four-day visit, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“The friendship and alliance as well as important problems and disagreements
which exist between Turkey and the USA have been emphasized in all our meetings.
At the same time, we have seen the will to cooperate in resolving problems and
disagreements. There is a need for all relevant parties to engage in mutually
constructive dialogue and take concrete steps in a positive direction.
Turkey-USA friendship is very important for the NATO alliance and the region in
which Turkey exists, as it is for the people of both countries. We will
continue our collaborative work with the US Chamber of Commerce, which we will
be addressing, particularly with regard to the bilateral trade and investment
issues, as well as the free trade agreement.”
- Four main subjects
Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the USA visit focused on four main
themes, “The details of the implementation of the TOBB-US Chamber of Commerce
Memorandum of Understanding and the joint activities to be carried out; the
possible effects on the visa application and the business world; training to be
conducted by TOBB ETU in Washington D.C. as well as the Turkish Trade Centers
to be preliminarily set up by TOBB in Chicago.
- Who did they meet with?
The TOBB delegation met with US Assistant Secretary of State Elisabeth
Millard, US Trade Department - USTR President and Chief Negotiator for
International Trade Robert E. Lighthizer and Turkish Ambassador to Washington D.C.
Serdar Kılıç, as well as US Congress Texas Pete Session, North Carolina Representative
Ted Budd and President of CSIS from leading think tanks of USA, Dr. Hamre.
The delegation also participated in the workshop organized by the US
Chamber of Commerce. On the last day of the visit, the TOBB delegation moved to
Chicago and held talks in regards to the Turkish Trade Center, the preliminary work
for which being conducted by TOBB.
Hisarcıklıoğlu's visit was accompanied by TOBB Vice Chairmen İbrahim
Çağlar and Ender Yorgancılar, TOBB Board Member Cengiz Günay and TEPAV Director
Prof.Dr. Dr. Güven Sak.