‘Strain with US temporary, not affecting economic ties’

The US economic interest in Turkey remains strong despite political strains, says Turkish American Chamber of Commerce head Beşir Kemal Ustaoğlu. ‘The strain in political relations is temporary,’ says Ustaoğlu, who believes that the US will act to make Turkey part of the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Washington understands the importance of including Turkey in the Trans-Atlantic free trade deal that is currently being negotiated with the EU, Turkish American Chamber of Commerce (TACCI) head Beşir Kemal Ustaoğlu has told the Hürriyet Daily News.

Despite current strains in political ties due to the situation in neighboring Syria, the turbulence is “temporary and not at the point of poisoning economic ties,” said Ustaoğlu, who believes that Washington will act decisively to make Turkey part of the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

He described the TTIP as “history’s biggest ever trade deal” and stressed that Turkey needs to accelerate its lobbying efforts to be included.

As a businessman from the southern province of Hatay, bordering Syria, what would you say about the current situation there?

In 2004 there was no relationship between Turkey and Syria. In 2010 by contrast we had very intensified relations. Tourism exploded in Antakya (Hatay). You could not even find a place in a hotel. Turkey’s exports to the Middle East and the Gulf were conducted through Syria. Things were going very fast, but as relations between the two countries deteriorated, they slowed down. There is psychological anxiety and this is putting everything on hold. Antakya has been even more affected than provinces such as Urfa, Gaziantep and Kilis.

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