Committee publication · Correspondence · 15 July 2026

Letter from the Minister of State for Trade relating to round five of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement with Turkey, 9 July 2026

Summary

Minister of State for Trade Sir Chris Bryant updates the Business and Trade Committee on progress in round five (15–23 June 2026) of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement with Turkey. Negotiations covered trade in services, goods, intellectual property, government procurement, and environmental cooperation. Eleven chapters have been closed to date; the sixth round is expected in autumn.

Key findings

Eleven negotiating chapters have been closed following five rounds; substantial progress made towards agreement on market access, regulatory alignment, and cross-cutting issues including intellectual property, government procurement, and environmental cooperation.
Trade in services negotiations yielded particularly strong progress in legal services; investment discussions reflected shared ambition between both sides.
Trade in goods discussions focused on market access and sanitary/phytosanitary measures; both sides reached agreement on modalities for market access offers while the UK maintained high standards.
Intellectual property discussions accelerated in round five, with both sides prioritising strengthening protection, enforcement, and environmental cooperation.
Sixth round of negotiations scheduled for autumn; Chief Negotiator Ilaria Regondi available for private briefing with Committee as negotiations continue.

Tone

Factual

Topics

trade-agreementstrade-in-servicestrade-in-goodsintellectual-propertyinternational-relations

Key actors

Sir Chris Bryant, Liam Byrne, Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, Mustafa Tuzcu, Ilaria Regondi, Department for Business and Trade, Business and Trade Committee

Notable line

“The UK will only ever sign a trade agreement which aligns with the UK's national interests, upholding our high standards across a range of sectors.”

Key Quotes

“Negotiations were constructive, with positive progress being made in a number of areas”
— Sir Chris Bryant · opening assessment of round five negotiations

“Particularly strong progress was made in Legal Services, among other areas.”
— Sir Chris Bryant · progress in trade in services

“After five rounds of negotiations negotiating teams have closed 11 chapters, along with agreement on multiple annexes and associated issues.”
— Sir Chris Bryant · summary of concluded chapters

“The UK will only ever sign a trade agreement which aligns with the UK's national interests, upholding our high standards across a range of sectors.”
— Sir Chris Bryant · UK's position on trade deal standards

View original document →

Source · parliament.uk record ↗