WT/REG392/M/1  
 
15 November 2019 
(19-7810) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
Ninety -fifth Session    
 
 
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT  BETWEEN TURKEY AND SINGAPORE  
(GOODS AND SERVICES)  
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 7 NOVEMBER  2019 
Chairm an: Ambassador Carlos Mario Foradori (Argentina)  
1.1.  The 9 5th Session of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (hereinafter 'CRTA' or the 
'Committee') was convened in Airgram WTO/AIR/RTA/ 20/Rev.1  dated 21 October 2019.  
1.2.  Under Agenda Item F.I of the Session, the CRTA considered the  Free Trade Agreement between 
the Turkey and Singapore (Goods and Services).  (hereinafter "the Agreement").  
1.3.  The Chairman  noted that the Agreement had entered into force on 1 October 2017. It ha d been 
notified to the WTO by the Parties on 14 September  2018 under Article  XXIV:7(a) of  the GATT  1994 
and the Understanding on the Interpretation of Article  XXIV of GATT 1994 as an Agreement 
establishing a free trade area (document  WT/REG 392/N/1)  and under GATS  Article  V:7(a) as an 
Agreement providing for the liber alization of trade in services within the meaning of Article V of the 
GATS (document S/C/N/91 6). The text of the Agreement was available, together with its Annexes, 
on the Parties' official websites. The Factual Presentation on the goods  and services  aspec ts 
(document  WT/REG3 92/1 dated 12 August 2019) and questions and replies (document 
WT/REG3 92/2 dated 29 October 2019)  had been distributed.  
1.4.  The representative of Turkey  thank ed the Secretariat for its efforts and intense cooperation 
during the preparation process of the Factual Presentation on the Agreement. She reaffirm ed 
Turkey's support for a rule -based multilateral trading system under the WTO and strengthened  WTO 
rules, disciplines and mechanisms , in particular on RTA s. She believe d that RTAs establish ing free 
trade areas contribute d to the development of international trade and provide d a favourable 
environment for entrepreneurs to make joint ventures by abolishing obstacles to trade between the 
parties to those agreements.   
1.5.  The Factual Presentation provide d detailed information about the structure and provisions of 
the Agreement and the preferential regime therein. Negotiations between Turkey and Singapore had 
started in 2014. The first round of negotiation s had been held in June 2014. A fter six round s of 
negotiations, the Parties had finalized the negotiations in September 2015. The Agreement had been 
signed on 14 November 2015 and had entered into force on 1 October 2017. It had been Turkey's 
third FTA with a South and East Asian countr y after the Republic of Korea and Malaysia.  
1.6.  The Agreement was Turkey's most comprehensive FTA and was composed of 18 Chapter s, one 
Protocol and a number of annexes and appendices. According to Chapter 2 on national treatments 
and market access, the Partie s had agreed to gradually liberalize substantially all the trade in goods 
between them over a transitional period starting from the date of entry into force of the Agreement  
in conformity with Article XXIV of GATT.  
1.7.  Tariffs for Turkish exporters had been el iminated by Singapore at the entry into force of the 
Agreement  while, for Singapore's exports, Turkey had eliminated 80% of its tariffs at entry into 
force. That share would increase to 95% of all tariff lines over a period of ten years.  The impact of 
the tariff liberalization had been seen quickly. According to Turkish statistics, in 2017, in the first 
year of the FTA, the trade volume between the Parties had exceeded USD 1 billion for the first time 
and reaching USD 1.79 billion , with an increase of 38% compared to the previous year.  WT/REG392/M/1  
 
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  1.8.  With regard to the rules of origin, recognizing that business might  have varied manufacturing 
processes and sourcing requirements for the same good, the Agreement allowed exporters to choose 
one of the co -equal rules that might fit better their needs. The Agreement had also adopted a self -
declaration regime that further facilitate d bilateral trade by reducing administrative time and cost. 
Moreover, the Agreement fores aw bilateral cumulation among Par ties and, for industrial products, 
regional cumulation with the E uropean Union and ASEAN countries.  
1.9.  Under the Agreement, the Parties had agreed to enhance co -operation in customs and customs -
related matters to simplify customs requirements and formalities.  Chapter 6 on Customs and Trade 
Facilitation incorporate d the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement,  mutatis mutandis,  while it include d 
additional provisions to provide better understanding and cooperation between customs agencies.  
1.10.   The Agreement cover ed provisions on trade in services and investment. Chapter 7 contain ed 
disciplines on cross border trade in services while Chapter s 8 and 9 cover ed disciplines on 
telecommunications and electronic commerce, respectively. The temporary movement of natural 
persons was governed by Chapter 11. Investment was dealt with in Chapter 12 which aimed at 
facilitat ing the bilateral investment environment in both Parties . Chapter 13 contain ed disciplines on 
Government Procurement,  and it was Turkey's first and only treaty cover ing Government 
procurement discipline. The Agreement also include d other commitments to lay a foundation to 
liberalize a wide array of trade issues including trade remedies, sanitary and phytosanitary 
measures, technical barriers to trade, intellectual pro perty rights and competition.  
1.11.   She expressed appreciation for  the S ecretariat 's valuable work in the preparation of the 
Factual Presentation and thanked Singaporean colleagues for their cooperation and support. She 
also thank ed the E uropean Union, Thailand, Canada, Chil e and the Separate Customs Territory of 
Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu for their valuable questions, enabling further elaboration of the 
Agreement. She finally thank ed the distinguished Members of the Committee for their participation 
and interest.  
1.12.   The representative of Singapore  thank ed the Secretariat for its efforts in preparing the Factual 
Presentation on the Agreement. Singapore was a firm supporter of the work of the CRTA, especially 
in enhancing transparency in the trading environment. Bilateral ties and economic cooperation 
between Singapore and Turkey had heightened in recent years and were set to further deepen. 
Bilateral trade bet ween Singapore and Turkey had consistently crossed SGD 1 billion since 2007  and 
more trade and collaborations between the two  economies  were expected .  
1.13.   Singapore and Turkey share d many common interests.  They had both benefit ed from open 
and free trade  and had prioritised development in infrastructure, healthcare, fintech and e -
commerce. T hey had been working closely together to create conducive conditions for their 
businesses to grow. Their bilateral trade ha d grown steadily and had exceeded SGD 1 billion in the 
last decade. The A greement had been  a milestone in their economic relationship.   
1.14.   The Agreement, which had entered into force in 2017, comprise d 18 chapters and cover ed a 
wide range of issues, including goods and services, investment and Government procurement. 
Additionally, the Agreement addresse d non-tariff barriers in areas such as telecommunications, 
electronic commerce and financial services. The Agreement was comprehensive.  
1.15.   The Agreement eliminate d 95% of all tariffs on Singapore's expo rts to Turkey. 80 % of those 
tariff cuts had been put into place when the Agreement had come into force in 2017 and the rest 
would be implemented over a period of ten years. In particular, Singapore an exporters, including in 
electronics, pharmaceuticals, ch emicals and processed food products, had benefit ed from the 
removal of tariffs by Turkey under disciplines on rules of origin, which took into account Singapore's 
unique regional supply chain and local production processes. Singapore had granted immediate duty-
free access to all imports from Turkey upon the entry into force of the Agreement .  
1.16.   Singapore and Turkey had committed to granting better access to each other 's services 
markets. The Agreement include d areas of interest to Singapore an and Turkish companies, such as 
retail, business, and construction services. Together with commitments to protect bilateral 
investment, the Agreement was expected to encourage cross -border trade and investment flows 
between  the Parties . WT/REG392/M/1  
 
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  1.17.   The Agreement include d Turkey 's first treaty commitments in Government procurement. 
Singapore companies would be  able to bid for procurement contracts from Turkish government 
entities, such as Turkey 's central government and all 30 of Turkey 's metropolitan municipalities, 
including Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Turkish companies would likewise benefit from access to 
Singapore 's Government procurement market.  
1.18.   The Agreement had promoted trade between the two economies  and it had encouraged 
Singap ore's companies to leverage Turkey 's strategic location as a gateway to the larger regional 
markets in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Similarly, Turkish firms could tap into 
Singapore as their base to the growing ASEAN region and beyond . 
1.19.   He thanked Members for their questions on the Agreement. He value d the opportunity to 
collaborate with Turkey and to share his perspectives on the Agreement.  
1.20.   The representative of the European Union  thanked the representatives of Turkey and 
Singapore for  their presentations and the replies provided to the E uropean Union's  written questions.  
1.21.   The representative of the United States  thanked Turkey and Singapore for participating in the 
valuable transparency exercise.  
1.22.   The Chairman  noted that the consideration of the Goods and Services Aspects of the Free 
Trade Agreement between Turkey and Singapore had allowed the Committee to clarify a number of 
questions and it could now conclude oral discussion of the RTA in accordance with para graph 11 of 
the Transparency Mechanism. If any delegations wished to ask follow up questions they were invited 
to forward submissions in writing to the Secretariat by 14  November 2019. Parties were asked to 
submit replies in writing by no later than 28 Nov ember 2019. In accordance with paragraph 13 of 
the Transparency Mechanism all written submissions, as well as minutes of the meeting would be 
circulated promptly, in all WTO official languages, and would be made available on the WTO website.  
1.23.   The Committee took note  of the comments made.  
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