OREANDA-NEWS. May 25, 2011. According to the press service of the Ministry of Economy of Moldova, the heads of delegations of both countries stressed the importance of free trade agreement by exchanging information on foreign trade between the countries. It was emphasized that trade between Moldova and Turkey in 2010 totaled USD 288 million, surpassing the previous year by 41%.

The share of Turkey had 5.2% of total foreign trade of Moldova in 2010 against 4.5% a year earlier. In discussions of the text of the Agreement on Free Trade parties agreed that this document will contain provisions similar to other agreements of this kind, signed by Moldova in the framework of CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement), adapted to peculiarities of bilateral trade relations in compliance with the provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994).

In particular, the head of the Moldovan delegation, Deputy Minister of Economy Octavian Calmic stressed the need for unilateral liberalization of trade in industrial products from Turkey, while Moldova will implement a phased liberalization of their products. Speaking of agricultural products, the parties agreed on the need of limited and controlled liberalization within the framework of mutually beneficial conditions and taking into account the development priorities of the real sector of each country. It was agreed that by the next round of negotiations they will complete the appendices to the agreement, which will include the dates of liberalization of trade regimes for industrial and agricultural products.

They will be presented at the next round of negotiations. In addition, it will create common working group comprising representatives of all ministries and departments concerned to conduct negotiations. The process of negotiations on Free Trade Agreement with Turkey must be synchronized with the negotiations on the Association Agreement and the Agreement on a comprehensive and in-depth free trade with the EU.