Union for the Mediterranean agreement and Turkey's changing fresh fruits and vegetables trade: An exercise with mediterranean partial equilibrium agricultural trade model

The Union for the Mediterranean Agreement, for which the first steps were initiated by the Barcelona Process, has opened a new page in relations between the EU and Mediterranean countries. Turkey has also became a part of this relationship by signing it recently. One of the main aims of the Agreement is stated as achievement of free trade in the Mediterranean region. This paper analyses the effects of created agricultural free trade area on Turkey's fresh fruits and vegetables trade. Mediterranean Partial Equilibrium Agricultural Trade Model (AMTM) is used to measure the changing policy impacts both on Turkey, the EU and Mediterranean countries. Simulation results show that there are no significant changes in trade patterns of Turkey due to the EU?s full liberalization in the model comodities, however once bilateral liberalization is in place in olives and tomatoes markets Moroccon exports to the EU replaces Turkey?s exports to the same destination at small rates.