Canada, Turkey Open Free Trade Talks

07:35 PM EDT, 10/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Canada and Turkey agreed to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement, with Canadian negotiators expected in Ankara next month for the first round of talks, AFP reported Thursday. The discussions came during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's official visit to Turkey, the first by a Canadian prime minister. The two countries also pledged to deepen cooperation on defense, energy and climate change, the report said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the countries aim to increase bilateral trade from about $3 billion to $5 billion and eventually $10 billion, the report said. Carney said Canada was seeking to diversify its international partnerships and reduce its dependence on the United States.