Türkiye – Amendment to Customs General Communiqué No. 16: Clarification on Simplified Procedure for OKSB Holders

Why This Matters for Foreign Exporters / Importers to Türkiye: Foreign exporters and importers often rely on Turkish counterparties holding OKSB status to benefit from faster and more predictable customs clearance. This amendment directly affects the operational reliability of such arrangements . The revised wording makes it clear that OKSB status alone is not sufficient . Only companies that actively meet the conditions of Article 42/A and retain the right to benefit from the associated facilitation measures may use the widespread simplified procedure. For foreign companies, this means that: Customs facilitation depends on the current and active compliance status of the Turkish OKSB holder, Simplified procedures cannot be assumed automatically based on certificate ownership, and Any suspension, restriction, or loss of facilitation rights may immediately affect clearance timelines and logistics planning . In practice, foreign exporters and importers should treat OKSB-based facilitation as a dynamic compliance condition , not a static entitlement.

09.02.2026
Türkiye – Anti-Dumping Measures Expiring in 2026: Official Notice under Communiqué No. 2026/4

Why This Matters for Foreign Exporters / Importers to Türkiye: Foreign exporters and importers supplying the Turkish market under existing anti-dumping measures should treat this Communiqué as a critical timeline alert , not a routine announcement. If no sunset review is initiated, the expiry of an anti-dumping measure may result in a sudden reduction of import costs , altering pricing structures, competitiveness, and market access conditions. Conversely, where a sunset review is requested and initiated, existing duties remain in force until the investigation is concluded , extending cost exposure beyond the original expiry date. For foreign suppliers, this means that commercial planning, contract pricing, and delivery schedules for the second half of 2026 onward must account for two parallel scenarios : expiry of the measure and removal of duties, or continuation of duties during a sunset review process. Ignoring this distinction may lead to mispriced offers, margin erosion, or contractual disputes with Turkish importers.

09.02.2026
Türkiye – Amendment to the Free Zones Implementation Regulation: Licensing, Accounting Separation and Superstructure Regime

Why This Matters for Foreign Exporters / Importers to Türkiye: Foreign exporters and importers frequently operate in Türkiye through free zones , either by leasing space from operators/B.K.İ.’s, using warehousing and distribution services , or structuring regional logistics hubs. This amendment directly affects the legal certainty, cost structure, and continuity of those operations . The Regulation makes it explicit that leasing, warehousing, and service activities may only be performed under properly defined licenses with fully segregated accounting . For foreign companies, this means that services received from free zone operators must now be assessed against clearly identifiable licenses , reducing grey areas but increasing the importance of compliance checks. More critically, in free zones established on Treasury-owned land , superstructures linked to certain licenses will automatically transfer to the Treasury upon license expiry , regardless of extension assumptions. Any disruption in the operator’s licensing or asset position may directly impact storage capacity, lease continuity, pricing, and operational stability for foreign users. In practice, foreign exporters and importers should expect greater scrutiny of service contracts, revised pricing models reflecting Special Account obligations , and stricter alignment between contractual terms and the operator’s licensing framework. Choosing operators with properly structured licenses and transparent accounting becomes a risk-management issue , not merely a commercial preference.

09.02.2026
Amendment to the Minimum Fee Tariff for Customs Brokers and Authorized Customs Brokers (Türkiye – Regulatory Update)

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers: Changes in minimum brokerage fees may lead to higher baseline customs service costs , particularly for low- or medium-value shipments. Foreign exporters should reassess commercial terms and cost-sharing clauses with Turkish importers, as brokerage costs may no longer be negotiable below statutory thresholds. Reduced percentage rates combined with higher fixed thresholds can shift cost dynamics , affecting which fee model applies to specific transactions. Importers operating under long-term logistics or brokerage agreements may face contractual misalignment if tariffs are not updated in line with the new mandatory minimums. Predictability of clearance costs becomes more critical for pricing, budgeting, and supply chain planning for Türkiye-bound trade flows.

05.02.2026
Imposition of Definitive Anti-Dumping Measures on Tin-Coated Flat-Rolled Steel Products Originating in Germany, China, Korea, Japan and Serbia

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: Definitive anti-dumping duties materially increase landed cost and pricing pressure for tinplate exports to Türkiye, directly affecting competitiveness. Exporters not individually listed face residual duty exposure , making producer identification and documentation commercially critical. Long-term contracts priced before the measures may become economically unviable , requiring renegotiation or risk reallocation. The five-year duration of the measures impacts medium- and long-term sourcing strategies , not just spot transactions. Misalignment between product specifications and the defined scope can trigger post-clearance duty reassessments and penalties , increasing compliance risk.

05.02.2026
Türkiye Implements Revised Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin (PEM 2023)

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: The shift to PEM 2023 rules can invalidate previously compliant origin structures , directly affecting preferential duty eligibility for Türkiye-bound trade. Exporters relying on PEM cumulation must reassess supplier networks and processing steps to avoid unexpected loss of tariff preferences. Errors in applying revised tolerance or insufficient processing rules may lead to retroactive duty claims and penalties after clearance. Stronger post-clearance verification increases the commercial risk of weak origin documentation , especially for complex multi-country supply chains. Contractual pricing based on preferential duties may require renegotiation if origin status cannot be sustained under the new framework.

05.02.2026
Update of Monetary Thresholds in Customs Procedures – Customs General Communiqué (Series No. 217)(Turkey)

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: Increased administrative fines heighten the financial risk of procedural errors , making accurate customs declarations and document alignment more critical for Türkiye-bound shipments. Higher overtime fees can raise clearance and logistics costs , particularly for time-sensitive imports or transactions conducted outside standard working hours. Updated monetary thresholds may affect guarantee requirements, limits, and risk-based controls , influencing how high-value shipments are processed by customs. Foreign exporters relying on Turkish importers should reassess cost forecasts and service agreements , as customs-related charges may no longer align with prior assumptions. System and process misalignment after 1 January 2026 may lead to unexpected penalties or clearance delays , impacting delivery schedules and commercial reliability.

05.02.2026
Definitive Anti-Dumping Duty on Acrylic Fibre Imports from China(Turkey) (Communiqué on the Prevention of Unfair Competition in Imports No. 2025/39)

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: The definitive anti-dumping duty materially increases landed cost and price pressure for acrylic fibre imports from China into Türkiye. Exporter-specific duty rates make supplier identification and documentation commercially critical, as misalignment may trigger the higher residual rate. Long-term supply contracts concluded before the measure may face margin erosion or renegotiation risk due to the newly imposed duties. The five-year duration of the measure affects medium- and long-term sourcing strategies , not only short-term shipments. Inconsistent origin, producer, or product declarations can lead to post-clearance reassessments, penalties, and compliance exposure .

05.02.2026
Anti-Dumping Investigation on Imports of Siccatives Originating in Egypt (Turkey) (Communiqué on the Prevention of Unfair Competition in Imports No. 2025/42)

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: The initiation of the investigation creates immediate duty risk exposure , as provisional or definitive anti-dumping measures may be imposed during the process. Importers sourcing siccatives from Egypt should reassess pricing and landed-cost assumptions , as future shipments may become subject to additional duties. Exporters that do not fully cooperate risk being assessed under “facts available,” potentially resulting in higher dumping margins. Long-term supply contracts may face commercial uncertainty , particularly where pricing does not account for potential retroactive duties. Supply chain planning may need adjustment, as companies consider alternative sourcing options to mitigate investigation-related risk.

05.02.2026
Circular No. 2025/14 – Amendment to the Postal and Express Cargo Customs Circular (No. 2022/9)

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: Stricter HS code requirements at the 6-digit level increase the risk of declaration errors for simplified export and express cargo shipments to Türkiye. The new KNSY framework for consignment exports may disrupt existing express cargo workflows , affecting lead times and cost assumptions. Limitations on authorized customs offices can reduce routing flexibility , particularly for road-based express cargo shipments. Expanded documentation requirements for certain product categories heighten clearance risk and delay exposure if documents are incomplete or misaligned. The new T1010 message code introduces volume-based constraints , requiring advance planning to avoid loss of simplified declaration eligibility and unexpected clearance costs.

05.02.2026
Communiqué on the Prevention of Unfair Competition in Imports (Communiqué No: 2025/41) (Turkey)

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: The provisional anti-dumping security creates an immediate cash-flow burden , as deposits must be provided upon import before any final decision is issued. Exporter-specific security rates make accurate producer/exporter identification commercially critical; any mismatch may trigger the significantly higher “Others” rate. Pricing and margin assumptions for photovoltaic projects may need short-term adjustment , even though the measure is provisional. The six-month provisional period introduces commercial uncertainty , especially for ongoing shipments and framework supply agreements.

05.02.2026
Turkey – Interim Review Results on Anti-Dumping Measures for Woven Fabrics (Communiqué No: 2025/36)

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: Interim review results can immediately change duty exposure , depending on whether a supplier is listed as exempt or removed from the exemption tables. Exporter-specific exemptions make producer identification and certification commercially critical; missing or incorrect certificates can negate zero-duty benefits. Suppliers removed from exemption lists face sudden cost increases , impacting pricing, margins, and ongoing supply contracts. Importers must actively manage supplier portfolio risk , as duty outcomes now differ significantly between otherwise similar EU-origin products. Errors in GTIP classification or producer declaration can trigger post-clearance duty assessments and penalties , despite interim review findings.

05.02.2026
Turkey – Definitive Anti-Dumping Measures on Polystyrene Imports (Communiqué No: 2025/37)

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: Definitive anti-dumping duties create an immediate and lasting increase in landed costs for polystyrene exports to Türkiye. Separate treatment of GPPS vs. HIPS heightens the importance of precise technical classification, as misclassification may trigger higher duty exposure. Exporter- or origin-specific rates require accurate producer and origin declarations ; inconsistencies can result in adverse duty application. The five-year duration of the measures affects medium- and long-term sourcing and pricing strategies , not just spot shipments. Contracts concluded before the final measures may face margin pressure or renegotiation , particularly where duties were not anticipated.

05.02.2026
Germany – Introduction of the Fully Digital Certificate of Origin (DCO) System

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers: The shift to fully digital Certificates of Origin eliminates reliance on paper-based controls , requiring importers to adapt document verification workflows. Failure to verify DCOs through the official electronic platform may lead to customs clearance delays or documentary challenges , despite the certificate being legally valid. Importers and brokers must ensure operational staff are trained to recognise and process digital certificates correctly, reducing procedural risk. Digital verification introduces greater traceability and transparency , but also increases exposure if internal compliance systems are not aligned. Exporters issuing German-origin goods should confirm that trading partners are technically and procedurally ready to accept and verify DCOs.

05.02.2026
Import Surveillance Measures for Shavers and Hair Clippers – Communiqué No: 2025/10 (Türkiye)

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: The surveillance threshold introduces a pre-clearance permit requirement , increasing lead time and administrative planning for low-priced shipments to Türkiye. Exporters pricing below the reference value may face shipment delays if the surveillance certificate is not secured before declaration registration. Commercial pricing strategies may need adjustment or segmentation , as unit values directly determine whether surveillance applies. Inconsistent valuation or documentation can halt certificate issuance , creating operational risk even before customs clearance begins. Importers must align contracts, shipment schedules, and logistics planning with the six-month validity and timing constraints of the surveillance regime.

05.02.2026
Amendments to the Postal and Express Courier Customs Procedures Communiqué (Serial No: 1) by Communiqué (Serial No: 4): Tariff Subheading, Competent Customs Offices, Consignment Exports, and Sanction Practice

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: Mandatory 6-digit tariff subheading for postal flows raises classification accuracy requirements and error risk for low-value, high-volume shipments. Removal of the fixed list for road express courier customs offices reduces routing certainty; misrouting can cause delays or rejection if an office is not currently authorized. The new consignment export discipline (non-extendable 1-year sale deadline and mandatory return if unsold) directly affects contract design, inventory planning, and reverse-logistics costs. Required use of designated exemption/regime codes and proforma invoices tightens documentation controls and increases pre-export readiness needs. Clarified sanction practice changes penalty exposure for corrections, making data-quality controls commercially important to avoid avoidable fines.

05.02.2026
Anti-Dumping Investigation Initiation on Certain Medical Catheters from China (Turkey – Communiqué No: 2025/38)

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: The initiation of the investigation creates immediate trade risk , as provisional measures may be imposed during the process and definitive duties may be applied retroactively. Importers of medical catheters from China should reassess pricing and landed-cost assumptions , even before any duty is formally imposed. Exporters face cooperation risk : failure to submit complete and timely questionnaire responses may result in adverse “facts available” determinations. The use of Türkiye as an analogue country for normal value calculation may significantly increase dumping margins if market economy treatment is not granted. Ongoing supply contracts and tender pricing may require early risk allocation and contingency planning to manage potential duty exposure.

05.02.2026
Approval of the Turkey–Malaysia Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee Decision No. 1/2024 on Retroactive Issuance of Certificates of Origin

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: The decision opens a time-limited opportunity to recover preferential tariff benefits for past Turkey–Malaysia trade where origin documents were missing or incorrect. Retroactive issuance can materially reduce historical duty costs , improving cash flow through refunds or post-clearance adjustments. Successful applications depend on complete and consistent historical documentation , increasing the importance of archive quality and traceability. Importers and exporters must coordinate closely, as acceptance of retroactively issued Certificates of Origin affects both customs refunds and compliance exposure . The one-year validity of the decision creates urgency , requiring prioritisation of eligible transactions to avoid losing potential benefits.

05.02.2026
Communiqué on the Prevention of Unfair Competition in Imports (No: 2025/44) – Türkiye

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: The country-specific outcome creates divergent cost structures , making China-origin products structurally more expensive than Indonesian-origin alternatives for Türkiye-bound trade. Even a seemingly modest 3.95% ad valorem duty can materially affect margins in steel trade, where pricing is typically volume-driven and highly competitive. Heightened origin scrutiny increases compliance risk; weak or inconsistent origin documentation may trigger retroactive duties and circumvention allegations. Precise technical classification (thickness, width, alloy composition) becomes commercially critical, as borderline specifications may determine duty liability. The five-year duration of the measure requires medium- and long-term sourcing and contract planning , not just short-term shipment adjustments.

05.02.2026
Import Surveillance Update for Toys and Festive Articles (Communiqué No: 2019/6) – Table Revision

Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye: Revised and more granular thresholds can change surveillance exposure overnight , particularly for remote-controlled toy cars and festive articles newly split into separate lines. Because thresholds are assessed per gross ton , exporters must align pricing, packing, and logistics data carefully to avoid unintentionally triggering surveillance. Misclassification between closely related GTİP lines (e.g. 9503 vs. 9505.10.90.00.00) can directly determine whether a Surveillance Certificate is required , affecting lead times and costs. Surveillance obligations introduce pre-clearance administrative steps , increasing the importance of shipment planning for time-sensitive or seasonal goods. Treating surveillance values as a proxy for customs valuation creates compliance risk , potentially leading to post-clearance challenges and penalties.

05.02.2026