Turkey keen to complete trade talks with Gulf council by end of year

Turkey wants to complete negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council by the end of the year, the Turkish trade ministry said on Wednesday, after Ankara hosted the first round of talks this week.

Ankara and the council agreed in March to hold the talks as Turkey bids to broaden economic ties with the region after diplomatic efforts in 2020 ended years of tensions with Gulf countries, namely Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The ministry said the parties discussed goods trade...