TIRANA, March 18 – The Parliamentary Committee on Laws approved changes to the free trade agreement between Albania and Turkey. The amendments clarify the concept of “originating products” and improve administrative cooperation.

Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation, Enkelejd Musabelliu, explained that the changes allow goods and trade partners to benefit from duty-free trade. He emphasized that the update aligns Albania with regional preferential rules and existing bilateral free trade agreements.

Musabelliu said the agreement now incorporates the preferential origin rules of the 2012 Convention. He added that the revised protocol allows diagonal cumulation of origin. This method applies across relevant free trade agreements between partner countries, ensuring consistent treatment of goods.

He stressed that defining preferential origin rules helps exporters and importers access duty-free trade. Musabelliu noted that Albania has updated other free trade agreements with the EU, leaving only the Turkey agreement pending until now.

The deputy minister clarified that the amendments carry no financial impact on the state budget. He added that the draft law complies fully with Albania’s constitution.

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