November 5, 2026
Canada and Türkiye open free trade talks in Ankara at the end of November. For red lentils, any impact may be small; most of Türkiye's imports are re-exported duty-free. However, imported lentils for the domestic market could benefit from any expansion of free trade that arises from the talks.
Türkiye re-exports around 90% of the lentils it imports, with most shipments destined for international markets.
Canada and Türkiye launched negotiations on a "comprehensive, modern, and mutually beneficial FTA" on 7 July 2026, on the margins of the NATO Summit in Ankara, according to a joint statement from their respective leaders. The first negotiating round will run from 30 November to 4 December 2026 in Ankara, the Canadian Prime Minister's Office said on 23 October.
Two-way merchandise trade was worth CAD 4.3 billion in 2025, of which Canadian exports to Türkiye made up CAD 1.1 billion, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
As to whether pulses will be affected, Yusuf Memis says: "The Canadian free trade agreement talks are going to take place at government level at the end of November/beginning of December, so nothing is clear yet."
READ THE FULL ARTICLESource: TurkStat foreign trade database
Source: Pulse Atlas.
Disruptions to Black Sea shipping have increased logistical challenges for Russian and Ukrainian lentil shipments to Türkiye.
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