The third round of discussions between Mauritius and Turkey on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is scheduled on 9 and 10 February in Port Louis.
The meeting will be co-chaired by Ambassador A.P. Neewoor, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Government of Mauritius, and by Mr. Hüsnü Dilemre, Director General, Prime Ministry of Foreign Trade, on behalf of the Government of Turkey.
Both countries expect to pursue discussion on the outstanding provisions of the FTA and consider market access concessions to be granted as well as Rules of Origin. Moreover, Turkey expects to grant duty free access on all industrial products once negotiations are concluded.
It will be recalled that during the previous rounds, discussions focused on the framework that would guide the FTA and the concessions to be granted by both countries. So far, it has been agreed that the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) would be used as basis for negotiations.
The relevance of having a FTA between the two countries is guided by the policy response to the trade regime of the European Union (EU). On the one hand, Turkey is bound by the Customs Union Agreement with the EU and has therefore the obligation to align itself progressively to the preferential customs regimes of the EU towards the ACP countries, including Mauritius.
Mauritius has recently signed an Interim EPA with the EU, which contains a “Turkey clause” and sets the context for preferential trade negotiations between Mauritius and Turkey.
The meeting will be co-chaired by Ambassador A.P. Neewoor, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Government of Mauritius, and by Mr. Hüsnü Dilemre, Director General, Prime Ministry of Foreign Trade, on behalf of the Government of Turkey.
Both countries expect to pursue discussion on the outstanding provisions of the FTA and consider market access concessions to be granted as well as Rules of Origin. Moreover, Turkey expects to grant duty free access on all industrial products once negotiations are concluded.
It will be recalled that during the previous rounds, discussions focused on the framework that would guide the FTA and the concessions to be granted by both countries. So far, it has been agreed that the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) would be used as basis for negotiations.
The relevance of having a FTA between the two countries is guided by the policy response to the trade regime of the European Union (EU). On the one hand, Turkey is bound by the Customs Union Agreement with the EU and has therefore the obligation to align itself progressively to the preferential customs regimes of the EU towards the ACP countries, including Mauritius.
Mauritius has recently signed an Interim EPA with the EU, which contains a “Turkey clause” and sets the context for preferential trade negotiations between Mauritius and Turkey.
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