Canada's Carney to visit Turkey Oct. 21-23 for bilateral talks

Sources indicate that the leaders may also discuss the free-trade agreement negotiations that were initiated on the sidelines of a NATO summit in July. Canadian and Turkish trade ministers have reportedly agreed to expedite these talks in anticipation of the leaders' meeting. This visit aligns with Carney's broader strategy to diversify Canada's trade relationships beyond the United States, aiming to double non-U.S. trade over the next decade.

Turkey, an emerging market economy, is seeking new markets and collaborations, particularly in its defense industry, and is looking for partnerships and investments in energy, infrastructure, and mining. While bilateral trade between Canada and Turkey is currently modest, accounting for less than 0.3% of Canada's total merchandise trade in 2025, the two countries have been exploring cooperation in areas such as renewable and nuclear energy, aerospace, and defense.

In recent years, Canada has removed weapons-export controls on Turkey, and Turkey has joined Canada's Defence Security and Resilience Bank. The two nations also formally launched free-trade agreement negotiations in July.