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UK Minister of State for Trade Chris Bryant said Britain and Türkiye aim to double their annual trade volume in the coming years, highlighting growing cooperation in defense, construction and services.
Speaking to Turkish news agency Anadolu, Bryant described Türkiye and the United Kingdom as countries located at opposite ends of Europe but linked by strong strategic interests as NATO allies.
“Türkiye and the United Kingdom form a unique partnership,” Bryant said. “When we act together, we can move things forward in ways that some countries cannot.”
Bryant said both countries share strong traditions in areas such as music and cinema and increasingly cooperate in key economic sectors.
He pointed to a bridge in Ukraine rebuilt with British steel and engineering but constructed by Turkish contractors as an example of successful collaboration.
“That is a really good example of partnership,” he said. “We often see how closely British and Turkish companies can work together in construction, particularly in challenging parts of the world.”
Bryant noted that while bilateral trade has reached £28 billion annually, significant opportunities remain untapped.
“There are still many sectors where trade between Türkiye and the U.K. is insufficient,” he said, identifying services as one of the biggest areas for growth.
“We can do much more business together in education, design, advertising and many other fields.”
Bryant said London and Ankara are working toward a more comprehensive free trade agreement that reflects the realities of modern economies rather than focusing solely on traditional goods trade.
He said negotiations with Turkish officials, including Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Deputy Trade Minister Mustafa Tuzcu, have centered on expanding cooperation in technology, the digital economy, services, education, advertising, design and construction.
“In the past, free trade agreements focused primarily on goods such as food, agricultural products and furniture,” Bryant said. “Today, technology, the digital economy and services are just as important.”
The British minister acknowledged that negotiations have been challenging but said both sides are committed to reaching an agreement that addresses future economic needs.
“We aim to create a free trade agreement suited to the needs of modern economies,” he said.
Bryant said the agreement should be designed with future decades in mind rather than reflecting economic realities of the past.
“We need to think about what the world will look like in 2050, 2070 and 2080,” he said. “If we can successfully implement this free trade agreement, I believe there are very bright opportunities ahead of us.”
He also noted that he plans to visit Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the coming weeks, highlighting additional opportunities for cooperation where Turkish companies are already active.
Bryant said the United Kingdom is proud of its relationship with Türkiye and wants to deepen cooperation further across trade, investment and strategic sectors.
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