until the 1980s the government owned most companies, but then prime minister turgut özal sold them. before, foreigners were usually not allowed to buy companies, land or property. turkey's international trade is mostly with the eu, the united states, the russian federation, and japan. turkey and the eu agreed not to put a lot of tax on what they buy and sell to each other. after that it was easier for turkish factories to sell products to the eu and for business people in the eu to buy companies in turkey.