A failed military coup in Turkey will not disrupt trade with Canada’s second largest lentil buyer, says an expert.
Peter Hall, vice-president of Export Development Canada, said the world was taken by surprise when factions of Turkey’s military attempted to overthrow the government last weekend.
Forces supportive of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan quickly quelled the coup attempt.
“If anything there is relief that calm is restored,” said Hall.
He was pleasantly surprised that Turkish stock markets opened for business on the morning of July 18. “That’s a very strong signal of a return to normal.”
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Hall doesn’t anticipate any disruption in trade with a country that bought 419,528 tonnes of Canadian lentils worth $375 million in 2015.
There is a huge incentive for the Turkish government to show its citizens that distribution networks for key commodities are back up and running.
“Of course food is right on top of the list,” said Hall.
Canadian lentil exporters don’t anticipate any disruption in trade either.
“We haven’t had anyone from Turkey contacting us saying they think this is going to be an issue going forward,” said Elyce Simpson Fraser, director of marketing and business development with Simpson Seeds.
