The role of bilateral agreements in the development of trade relations: The case of Turkey and Qatar

This study seeks to shed light on the role that bilateral agreements play in the Turkish-Qatari trade relations, given the two countries' economic potentials and good political relations that were not affected by regional and international developments. It aims to study the impact of bilateral agreements on trade relations between the two countries and the extent of their contribution to promoting foreign trade by using data on foreign trade, trade balance, trade exchange and investment, and knowing the extent of the development of trade relations between Turkey and Qatar during the period (2010-2019). In this context, the study relies on the historical approach to present the bilateral agreements concluded between the two countries, as well as the descriptive approach in defining bilateral agreements and their importance and explaining their advantages and role in commercial development, in addition to the analytical approach in analyzing the reality of the commercial relationship between the two countries during the study period. Among the most important findings of this study: Bilateral agreements contribute positively to the development of trade and investment relations between the two countries. The rate of trade exchange between the two countries increased from $339 million in 2010 to $1.4 billion in 2019. After the establishment of the Supreme Strategic Committee between them in 2014, nearly 60 bilateral agreements were signed between 2014-2019. These agreements contributed to the development of relations between them, especially in the fields of commerce, diplomacy, economy, banking and financial services, investment, transport, tourism, health, labor, security and defense, military industry, culture, education and technology, energy and agriculture. The increase in the volume of investment flows and the increase in the number of companies investing in the two countries after signing the encouragement and protection investment exchange, prevent tax evasion, economic cooperation and exchange local currencies agreements.