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Turkey recognized for its important role in the WTO

Turkey is a good example of the benefits of economic integration and re-composition of the structure of production and the trade portfolio.  Turkey's trade policies were determined by its membership to the WTO, its customs union with the EU, and its 15 free-trade agreements (FTAs).

Turkey considers regionalism as a natural process and as a complementary means to multilateral liberalization.  For Turkey, which bridges different regions with economic, political and cultural variations, regional integration is a very important tool to bring stability and prosperity to a very extensive area.  In parallel with its existing FTAs, Turkey launched a Trade Development Strategy with Neighboring and Region Countries in 2000.  Turkey matched its trade policy to contribute to economic and political stability in its region.  The various economic organizations in the area (i.e. Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, Economic Cooperation Organization, and Organization of Islamic Countries) emerged as new fora to initiate better regional trade conditions.  Despite its involvement in regional trade arrangements, Turkey was truly committed to the primacy of the multilateral trading system.

Although the Doha objectives could not yet be achieved at the global scale, Turkey remains committed to the rules and principles of the multilateral trading system, and will work eagerly to push forward liberalization in the multilateral arena.