10.09.2019 Ankara
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, at the Turkey-US business luncheon held at TOBB with the participation of Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan and US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, said, “A free trade agreement or a preferential trade agreement to the same effect must be signed between the United States and Turkey.” Hisarcıklıoğlu, said in speech, “Products produced by Syrian asylum-seekers in an area in Turkey, with special customs consideration by the United States, will facilitate the integration of Syrian refugees into the labor market in Turkey.”
The
Turkey-US business luncheon was held at TOBB with TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu hosting, with the participation of Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan
and US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
in his speech here, said that trade is the greatest means of friendship and
alliance. Reminded that Turkey exports more than half of its industrial
products to the European Union (EU) Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “This is the most
concrete indication that of our products’ quality and our competitiveness. All
over the world manufacturers are focused on two markets, the US and the EU.
They look for both quality and price competition. We are succeeding in these
markets. I believe we will achieve the 100 billion USD trade target with the
US.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the trade volume target is essential for both countries to win and
the balance should be in the form of 50 billion USD imports and 50 billion USD exports.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
emphasized that they expect support and help from politicians in order to reach
the target.
“Firstly,
a free trade agreement or a preferential trade agreement to the same effect
must be signed between the United States and Turkey. strategic cooperation fields
should be identified between our countries’ business worlds for innovation and
development of new technologies. An agreement similar in structure to Binational
Research and Development (BIRD) between the US and Israel in 1977, should be
established between Turkey and the United States. This initiative will provide
favorable conditions for technology transfer, especially through the private
sector.”
- Proposal for the Syrians residing
in Turkey
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
stating that products produced by Syrian asylum-seekers in an area in Turkey, with
special customs consideration by the United States, will facilitate the
integration of Syrian refugees into the labor market in Turkey:
“Turkey
should be included again GSP Program. Turkey, Section should be exempted from Section
232. Based on past years, anti-dumping applications on pasta, steel and some
products should be terminated. US investors' problems and problems experienced
in entering the market should be addressed with a constructive approach. The US
contracting market should also be opened to Turkish companies."
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that they are very glad for Minister Ross’ emphasis on the fair
distribution of 100 billion USD of trade volume as 50-50%, reporting that they
will be providing all necessary support to reach this bilateral trade goal
through the Turkish trade centers to be established in various US cities,
starting with Chicago.
- Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan
Trade
Minister Ruhsar Pekcan stated that Turkey and the US can overcome all obstacles
by working together, “US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’ 5-day visit is very
important and at the same time shows how seriously the US government considers these
issues.”
Ministers
Pekcan reported that they’ve conducted productive meetings with Secretary Ross and
industry representatives regarding Turkey's industrial capacity, capabilities
and general outlook.
Pekcan
stated that their aim is to reach the target of 100 billion USD trade volume
set by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US President Donald Trump. She stated
that they have been working with Secretary Ross for this purpose since the April
visit to Washington and they have established a workgroup to this end.
Pekcan
stated that each sector has created a separate study on this subject and said:
“We
shared these studies with Secretary Ross. The reports of the workgroups formed
overlaps with each other. This shows that we are on the right track. Every
sector is important for us. There are sectors that the US side is very
interested in. We have selected some sectors to work together on during the
first stage. we will continue to share the work with the private sector and to
receive feedback from them.
Pekcan
noted that the parties understood each other well and knew what the
expectations were, and said that the infrastructure needed for the business
community should also be implemented in order to reach the target set.
“Both
countries can work together to overcome all obstacles. This five- day visit is
very important and at the same time shows how seriously the US government considers
these issues. We analyzed all sectors during the visit with him.”
- US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur
Ross
US
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, stated that Turkey is a great and beautiful
country as it has been for a thousand years.
Reporting
that they’ve conducted a very fruitful 2.5-hour meeting with President Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan, Ross said:
“The
meeting was held in a very open and constructive manner. We have discussed the
structure and complexity of our business relationships. Today, there are 1,700
US companies doing business in Turkey and they are US' best-known brands. These
US companies and their subsidiaries last year accumulated 35.4 billion USD in
revenues. this also is equivalent to about 3.5% of Turkey's Gross Domestic. US
companies employs 78,000 Turks and are holding assets valued at 31 billion USD in
Turkey. We can consider these very long-term investments. US companies are very
useful for Turkey. We are there to strengthen the commercial interests of both
countries.”
Ross
stated that trade relations between the two countries have also weathered the
ups and downs of being in a geopolitical alliance, “Turkish companies are engaging
in direct investments in the United States. These investments broke the record
last year and reached 300 million USD. Turkey ranks 15th among
countries for foreign direct investment in the US. Turkish companies' sales in
the US reached a record 700 million USD. We hope this will continue.”
Ross
said that economic success depends on transparency, predictable judicial
system, protection of intellectual property and human rights and reasonable
legal framework. “To this end, it is very important to protect US companies. It
is very important for US companies to engage in cooperation in the fields of
energy, agriculture, tourism and other sectors; I would like to encourage you
to cooperate in such a manner for a win-win model.”
- “We have discussed issues and
existing obstacles”
Noting
that the tradition of working together between the two countries should be
further developed, Ross concluded:
“In
the meeting, we discussed the problems and the existing obstacles. We had very
open talks. Especially regarding the F-35 and the missile systems; the most
urgent need is to announce specific and concrete data. Otherwise, the fallout caused
by these problems will affect other areas of our relations and influence
commercial relations.”
- “I was very impressed with
Hisarcıklıoğlu's speech”
Ross
stated that he was impressed by TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu's speech to
increase the trade volume between the two countries and added, “It is quite
possible to increase our bilateral trade volume by several billion USD in just
a couple of days. We can attain our 100 billion USD bilateral trade goal quicker
this way.”