IKV is monitoring and analyzing the growing number of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) which nowadays plays an influencing role in the world trading system. In this respect, IKV is following closely especially the on-going negotiations of FTAs signed by the EU with third countries since they have direct impact on Turkey via the established Customs Union with the EU. Within this framework, a special focus is given to the negotiations conducted between the EU and the USA on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Through the organization of various conferences and meetings as well as the publication of articles related to the Customs Union and FTAs, IKV informs the Turkish business community about the latest developments with the aim to help them better assess the impacts these agreements could have on Turkey’s various sectors.

Within this framework, in the course of 2014, IKV has launched the project aiming to establish a FTA Information and Capacity Building Center with the support of the Turkish business community and civil society organizations. This Center aims not only to conduct research and develop analyses on FTAs especially for the private sector but also aspires to better formulate opinions on the impacts of these agreements on the business community and on various sectors.

If you require any further information about this project, you may contact us via ikv@ikv.org.tr

Further information on the FTA Information and Capacity Building Center can be reached here

       Meetings:

IKV Organised a Training on Türkiye-EU Relations, Customs Union and Green Deal (January 2023)

IKV Organised a Panel Entitled “Modernisation of the Turkey-EU Customs Union and the Effects of the Green Deal” (May 2022)

IKV Secretary General Nas Participated in the Customs Union Modernisation Working Group Meeting (September 2022)

IKV Secretary General Nas Gave a Presentation on Customs Union Modernisation at the Turkey-EU JCC Meeting (November 2021)

IKV Attended the Customs Union Working Group Meeting (August 2021)

IKV Held a Webinar on “Modernisation of the Turkey-EU Customs Union: Challenges and Opportunities” (May 2021)

IKV Secretary General Nas Spoke at the Webinar on Turkey-UK Free Trade Agreement (March 2021)

Turkey-UK FTA Will Ensure the Continuity of Bilateral Trade Under Similar Conditions (December 2020)

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu Attended a Digital Forum on the Customs Union (November 2020)

Customs Union Modernisation Discussed at Online Event (October 2020)

Modernisation of the Customs Union and Its Impact on Sectors Discussed at IKV Webinar (September 2020)

IKV Attended the Customs Union Modernisation and Brexit Working Group Meeting (July 2020)

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu Commented on the EU-Vietnam FTA (July 2020)

IKV Participated in The Customs Union for SMEs Meeting (January 2020)

IKV Secretary General Assessed Turkey-EU Customs Union in Kayseri (November 2019)

IKV Discussed the Customs Union in Sofia (June 2019)

IKV Discussed the Modernisation of the Customs Union in Aydın (April 2019)

IKV Joined the Working Group on the Modernisation of the Customs Union and Brexit (February 2019)

IKV Realised a Conference on International Investment and Trade Agreements (October 2018)

IKV Discussed the Modernization of the Customs Union in Kırklareli (March 2018)

IKV Discussed the Modernisation of the Customs Union in Kütahya (January 2018)

• IKV discussed Modernisation of the Customs Union in Sakarya (December 2017)
• IKV discussed Turkey-EU agenda in Ankara (November 2017)
• IKV assessed Turkey-EU agenda in Kahramanmaraş (November 2017)
• IKV evaluated Customs Union in Eskişehir (November 2017)
• IKV discussed the future of Turkey-EU relations in Hatay (November 2017)
• IKV recited Turkey-EU Agenda in Tekirdağ (November 2017)
• IKV evaluated the Modernisation of the Customs Union in Rize (November 2017)
• IKV discussed the Institutional and Legal Regulations on the Modernisation of the Customs Union (November 2017)
• IKV evaluated Turkey-EU agenda in Manisa (November 2017)
• IKV evaluated Turkey-EU agenda in Çanakkale (November 2017)
• IKV organised a panel on the Global Trade System’s Latest Trends (October 2017)
• IKV discussed the Customs Union in İzmir (September 2017)
• IKV discussed Customs Union in a meeting hosted by Aegean Region Chamber of Industry (June 2017)
• IKV discussed the Modernisation of the Customs Union in Antalya (May 2017)
• IKV discussed Customs Union in Giresun (May 2017)
• IKV examined Customs Union in Zonguldak (May 2017)
• IKV discussed the Modernisation of the Customs Union in Antalya (May 2017)
• IKV discussed the Customs Union process at Bahçeşehir University (April 2017)
• IKV discussed Customs Union in Konya, İzmir and Afyon (March 2017)
• IKV organised a roundtable meeting on Turkey-EU relations in Brussels (March 2017)
• IKV discussed the Customs Union in Brussels (March 2017)
• IKV discussed the latest developments in Turkey-EU relations in Adana (February 2017)
• The modernisation of the Customs Union was discussed in Gebze (February 2017)
• Customs Union Talks were held (February 2017)
• Seminar on Turkey-EU relations and economy in Brussels (November 2016)
• Seminar on the Customs Union in the light of the Common Agricultural Policy (November 2016) 
• IKV attended the COELA meeting (October 2016)
• The Customs Union Talks meeting was held (September 2016)
• IKV participated to the Panel entitled "Turkey-EU Relations: Refugee Crisis, EU Accession Process and The Customs Union" (December 2015)
• IKV Delegation attended the Meeting regarding the Revision Process of the Customs Union (September 2015)
• IKV evaluated the new agenda on Turkey-EU relations in Sakarya (April 2015)
• FTA Information and Capacity Centre organized a Seminar on TTIP (February 2015)
• IMF Senior Resident Representative in Turkey visited IKV Chairman Vardan (October 2014)
• The Second Meeting Of FTA Informatıon and Capacıty Building Centre took place in Istanbul (June 2014)
• IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan participated to a Seminar on Customs Union (June 2014)
• First meeting of FTA Information and Capacity Building Centre took place (April 2014)
• IKV Chairman participated in the Customs Union Panel (April 2014)

       Articles and Briefs:

• IKV Brief: Modernizing the EU-Turkey Customs Union, Ahmet Emre Usta, (April 2022)

  IKV Brief: Turkey-UK Free Trade Agreement: It’s Scope and Future, Merve Özcan Altan, (June 2021)

  IKV Brief: Expectations vs. Realities: Implications of Germany’s EU Presidency for the Modernisation of Turkey-EU Customs Union, Merve Özcan Altan, (December 2020)

  EU Competences on Trade Policy: Opinion 2/15 and Prospects for Future EU Trade Agreements, Bahar Güçlü, (January 2018)

  IKV Brief: A Quick Glance to Turkey’s Free Trade Agreements, Selen Akses, (December 2016)

• Views of Turkish Stakeholders are Welcome in Commissions Online Public Consultation on the Customs Union, Selen AKSES, Hürriyet Daily News, 9 April 2016
• Efforts to Improve the Business Environment Should be Intensified in 2016, Selen AKSES, Hürriyet Daily News, 2 January 2016
• Trans-Pacific Partnership: The Most Important Trade Agreement in the World, Çisel İLERİ, IKV Website, December 2015
• Where Does Turkey Stand in EUs New Trade and Investment Strategy?, Selen AKSES, Hürriyet Daily News, 16 November 2015
• IKV Brief: Why the Revision of the Framework and Scope of Turkey-EU Customs Union was Inevitable?, Selen Akses, (June 2015)
• Why the Revision of Turkey-EU Customs Union was Inevitable?, Selen Akses, Hürriyet Daily News, 1 June 2015
• IKV Brief: Revision of the Customs Union in 5 Questions, Melih Özsöz and Selen Akses, (May 2015)
• IKV Brief: Revision of Turkey-EU Customs Union: An imperative need, Selen Akses, (August 2014)
• Turkey does not want to be left out from the EU-US talks, Selen Akses, The European Institute, 18 October 2013
• IKV Brief: The Turkish Perspective on the Transatlantic Trade And Investment Partnership, Selen Akses, (October 2013)
• IKV Brief: Outlook to Turkey’s Trade Relations and the Turkey-EU Customs Union, Selen Akses, (July 2011)