Administration of Tariff Quotas on Imports of Certain Industrial Products – Communiqué No: 2026/1 (Türkiye)

Scope

The Communiqué covers a wide list of industrial inputs identified by specific GTP codes and detailed technical descriptions set out in Annex-1. The list includes, among others, paraffin, high-purity phosphorous acid, acetylacetone meeting strict specifications, acetic acid and vinyl acetate, butyl acrylate, acrylonitrile for use in certain chapters/products, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane for textile finishing raw material use, epsilon-caprolactone, lignosulfonate solutions, specified catalyst systems, specialized ABS copolymer for household appliance parts, certain polyether polyols, tire cord fabric materials, rotary compressors for air conditioner production, electrical transformers for appliance/TV production, various battery types for specified manufacturing uses, LED PCB units for backlight manufacture, toy-related electronic mechanisms, and zipper components—many of which are explicitly tied to end-use (final use) controls under customs legislation.

The tariff quotas apply only to the products meeting the specific “special definition” conditions written in Annex-1. Where the item is marked as end-use dependent, the reduced duty benefit is conditional upon compliance with final-use procedures.

Eligibility and Application Window

Tariff quota allocation is limited strictly to industrial manufacturers that use the relevant goods as raw materials or intermediate goods in production.

To benefit from the tariff quota, eligible manufacturers must apply within 15 business days from publication using an electronic signature via the Ministry of Trade’s “Import Document Procedures (İthalatBİS)” platform under E-Services / E-Transactions. E-signature holders must be properly authorized in line with Communiqué No: 2026/19 on electronic authorization for import applications.

During application, applicants must select the document type “TPS-0955 – Import License (Industry)” and select Communiqué No: 2026/1 as the legal basis. Each product requires a separate application. If deficiencies are detected after the deadline, the Ministry may grant an additional five business days to complete missing documents.

Allocation Mechanism

The primary allocation method is demand-collection. If there is no application during the demand-collection period, or if applications remain below the available quota and a balance remains, the remaining amount is distributed according to a first-come, first-served approach based on application order.

Where total demand is equal to or lower than the opened quota, applications are fulfilled in full. Where total demand exceeds available quota, allocation may consider one or more criteria, including valid application timing and count, total requested quantities, actual consumption, production volume, production and consumption capacities, total import volumes, and past quota utilization performance.

For allocations made under the first-come, first-served distribution of leftover quotas, the amount granted under a single import license may not exceed 10% of the remaining quota balance, and a new import license cannot be issued to the same applicant unless at least 15 days have passed since the document date of the last allocated license. Remaining available quota balances can be viewed by authorized users in the İthalatBİS system.

Import License Issuance and Customs Use

Imports benefiting from the tariff quota require a valid import license issued by the Ministry of Trade (Import General Directorate). The license is checked by customs at the time of registration of the customs declaration.

Licenses are issued electronically and notified to the email address specified in the application. The notification includes a 23-digit document reference number and a document date, which must be declared in Box 44 of the customs declaration. No separate written notification is provided.

If the importer is not registered in the customs system and the license cannot be approved in the Single Window, the importer must register within five business days and inform the Ministry; otherwise, the application is invalid. Goods may enter free circulation only within the license validity period.

Validity, Transfer, and Revision Rules

Import licenses issued under this Communiqué are valid until 15 February 2027 (inclusive).Licenses are non-transferable and must be used only by the license holder.

The Ministry may revise license details where necessary, either ex officio or upon request supported with documentation. However, requests to increase the quantity on an issued license are not considered.

Controls and Compliance Consequences

The Ministry is authorized to conduct or commission inspections regarding the accuracy of declarations and imported goods. If inconsistencies are identified in documentation, allocation is suspended until corrected. The Ministry may request original documents and additional information and retains authority to cancel licenses and take application-level measures.

The Communiqué explicitly states that it does not prevent the application of other import-related legislation, including technical regulations, product compliance requirements, and end-use controls under customs law.

Repealed Regulation and Transitional Rule

Communiqué No: 2025/1 has been repealed. Import licenses issued under the repealed Communiqué remain valid until 15 February 2026 (inclusive) under the transitional provision.

Entry into Force

The Communiqué enters into force on 1 January 2026.

Compliance Assessment

From a practical compliance standpoint, this Communiqué is operationally heavy and documentation-driven. Eligible manufacturers should prepare early, because quota allocation may depend on both the completeness of submissions and demand pressure. The annexed product definitions are highly technical; therefore, aligning HS/GTP classification, product specifications (including CAS details where applicable), and declared end-use with the quota conditions is essential. The requirement for capacity reports, proforma invoices, and YMM-certified import summary tables for 2023–2025 (where applicable) indicates that applications may be scrutinized not only for eligibility but also for consistency and historical import behavior. Inaccurate or inconsistent submissions increase the risk of rejection, delays, or later administrative action.

See the legislation document.