A technical regulation has been made regarding the inquiry of whether there is a registered maritime vessel in the name of the debtor on the Finalized Customs Receivables Tracking Information System (KATBİS) within the scope of enforcement proceedings, along with any information related to the maritime vessel if applicable.

Hüseyin ŞANVERDİ, the Regional Director of Uludağ Customs and Foreign Trade Regional Directorate, and his accompanying delegation visited Nadir Küpeli, the President of Eskişehir Organized Industrial Zone.

Regional Director Hüseyin ŞANVERDİ and his delegation visited Nadir Küpeli, the President of Eskişehir Organized Industrial Zone (OSB). This visit has been an important opportunity to contribute to the export-oriented development processes of the city's industry. It provided an efficient platform for consultations to listen to the issues faced by industrialists in the region regarding their export processes and to develop solution-oriented approaches.

Eskişehir is one of Turkey's important industrial cities with its production infrastructure and high value-added sectors. Topics such as accelerating customs procedures, increasing digitalization, and facilitating logistics processes play a key role in enhancing the region's effectiveness in international markets. We are aware that for our industrialists to stand out in global competition, customs processes must be transparent, fast, and sustainable.

During the visit, we had the opportunity to hear the bureaucratic barriers, logistics needs, and requests related to technical standards faced by our industrialists in their export processes. Such feedback sheds light on the improvement of our regulations and application processes according to field needs. At the same time, it allows us to shape our projects aimed at increasing the competitiveness of exporters more effectively.

As the Customs and Foreign Trade Regional Directorate, we are always ready to support such cooperation and consultation processes aimed at increasing Eskişehir's export capacity. This dialogue between the public and private sectors is of strategic importance not only for Eskişehir but also for achieving our country's export goals. On this occasion, we thank the management of Eskişehir OSB and all industrialists for their hospitality and hope to build a stronger export future together.

The letter dated 11.12.2024 with the reference number 103861773 titled "Regarding Permanent Entry Card" sent by the Aliağa Customs Directorate;

Step by Step, Day by Day… Comprehensive Information Note (Chronology) on Turkey’s Process of Halting Trade with Israel

The Ministry of Trade announced that no cargo from Israeli ports or goods originating from that country, which are not included in the Turkey-Palestine bilateral trade mechanism, is permitted to be unloaded at Turkish ports or loaded for export to Israel. 

The "Information Note on Turkey's Process of Halting Trade with Israel," prepared by the Ministry, provides information on the steps taken since the beginning of the process. 

The note highlights the decisions made due to Israel's attacks on Palestine and includes answers to 15 questions that have been raised.

The amount of containers handled at our ports increased by 16.1%

In November 2024, the amount of containers handled at our ports reached 1 million 126 thousand 736 TEUs, representing an increase of 16.1% compared to the same month of the previous year. In the January-November period of 2024, the amount of containers handled at our ports was 12 million 422 thousand 38 TEUs, indicating an increase of 8.4% compared to the same period of the previous year.

You can access the letter from the General Directorate of Customs regarding the confirmation that will be received from the Sugar Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for the sales of type C sugar previously purchased from within the country under the Dahilde İşleme regime DİR through the link below.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sta-gumruk_di%CC%87r-kapsam%C4%B1nda-yurt-i%CC%87%C3%A7inden-c-%C5%9Fekeri-temini-activity-7274390143837356032-KNNC?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

CMA CGM Announces Price Increases for US-Connected Shipments Starting in January

Maritime News, December 9, 2024 - CMA CGM has postponed the announced fee increase for shipments planned from the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea, and Egypt to the US East Coast and the Gulf, which was set to take effect on December 5, to January 1. The revised shipping rates will implement a standard charge of $1,500 per container.

This adjustment comes as part of a broader revision in rates due to changing global port conditions. In this regard, CMA CGM also plans to apply a Port Congestion Surcharge (PCS) of $500 per container for shipments from the Far East to Banjul, Gambia. This additional fee, which responds to the current conditions in Banjul, will take effect from December 15, 2024, and will apply to departures from China, Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Furthermore, starting from January 2025, CMA CGM will increase rates for shipments from various Mediterranean ports to the US. The affected ports include Fos/Marseille in France, Portugal, Italy, Spain (including Algeciras, Valencia, Barcelona, Sagunto, and Vigo), and Morocco. The increase will be $250 per 20-foot container and $500 per 40-foot container.

These price adjustments reflect the changing dynamics of global shipping operations and CMA CGM's strategic response to geographical and economic variables affecting the logistics sector.

The letter regarding the changes made to the General Directorate of Customs' Decision No. 8860, which amends the Decision No. 2012/3305, is as follows:

- In relation to the investment incentive certificates prepared based on applications made on or after 29.08.2024, the demands for the addition of machinery and equipment to the import machinery and equipment lists attached to the investment incentive certificates prepared based on applications made before this date will be evaluated based on the updated EK-8 list as of 29.08.2024;

- It is stated that for machinery and equipment that were approved within the scope of investment incentive certificates issued for applications made between 29.06.2021 and 29.08.2024 but have not yet been imported, the EK-8 list that was in force before 29.08.2024 should be taken into account.

At the Edirne Kapıkule Border Gate, a total of 24 kilograms and 420 grams of marijuana was seized from Captain Andrevo, who attempted to smuggle it into Turkey.

The first seizure occurred when a Bulgarian citizen driver with Bulgarian plates traveling to Turkey declared to customs officials that he was not carrying any goods subject to export bans and restrictions. The vehicle was directed for an X-ray scan after unusual densities were detected on the floor of the passenger compartment. During the inspection, a total of 11 kilograms and 900 grams of marijuana hidden in 22 transparent packages were seized from two compartments under the passenger seats.

The second seizure took place in the vehicle of a German citizen driver traveling to Turkey with his Ukrainian friend from Germany. During the physical inspection of the vehicle directed to the X-ray machine, the front fenders were removed. The checks revealed a total of 12 kilograms and 520 grams of marijuana in 43 packages hidden in specially made compartments.

Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), stated, "We have completed the modernization of 15 customs gates so far." TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu visited Governor Yunus Sezer in his office during his visit to Edirne for an award ceremony. Hisarcıklıoğlu, who was welcomed by Governor Sezer in front of the governorship, signed the Honor Book.

The Indian government is considering imposing a 25% safeguard duty on steel imports to address domestic producers' concerns, particularly regarding the increase in imports from China. 

While more than 60% of imports come in duty-free from FTA countries, this measure aims to protect domestic competitiveness. Imports have risen by 5%.

Turkey's hot-rolled sheet imports decreased by 19.7% in the January-October period.

According to data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), hot-rolled sheet imports in October of this year stood at 275,739 metric tons, representing a monthly increase of 22.4% and a yearly decrease of 7.5%. The revenue generated from these imports was recorded at $165.43 million, showing a monthly increase of 21.1% but a 14.9% decrease compared to October 2023.

In the first 10 months of this year, Turkey's hot-rolled sheet imports decreased by 19.7% year-on-year to 2,937,367 metric tons, while the value of these imports fell by 24% to $1.89 billion.

During the same period, the country from which Turkey imported the most hot-rolled sheets was China, with 1,506,323 metric tons. China was followed by Egypt, which exported 469,353 metric tons of hot-rolled sheet, and Russia, which exported 306,612 metric tons. The top 10 countries from which Turkey imported the most hot-rolled sheets in the first 10 months of the year are listed as follows:

On December 10, 2024, the "Anti-Pillage Law" came into effect in Ecuador, restructuring tax rates on the purchase of second-hand vehicles.

Under the "Anti-Pillage Law," which took effect on December 10, 2024, tax rates on second-hand vehicle purchases have been reorganized in Ecuador. This law changes the second-hand vehicle tax that has been applied at a fixed rate of 1% since 1998. With the new legal arrangement, tax rates will vary between 0.75% and 4.25% according to the value of the vehicle, with higher tax rates applied for purchases of higher-valued vehicles.

In a statement made by Minister of Economy and Finance Juan Carlos Vega on December 12, 2024, it was stated that the purpose of the tax is not to generate more revenue, but rather to create a control mechanism over the buying and selling of used vehicles. Additionally, it was mentioned that the new tax mechanism for used vehicle transactions is expected to generate annual revenues of around 80 million dollars.

For the year 2024, the revaluation rate has been determined as 43.93%, therefore some amounts related to Customs Procedures for the year 2025 have been recalibrated. The penalty for irregularities mentioned in the first paragraph of Article 241 of the Customs Law will be applied as 1,191.00 TL.

The overtime fee will be 110.00 TL per hour for export transactions and 259.00 TL for other transactions. For Turkish-registered trucks, the overtime fee will be 259 TL per truck for exports and 407 TL for other transactions.

In the processes of refunding or abolishing customs duties:

- The upper limit of authority for customs directorates will be 3,770,000.00 TL,

- The upper limit of authority for customs and foreign trade regional directorates will be 37,770,000.00 TL,

- The lower limit of authority for the Ministry will be 37,770,000.00 TL.

Last week, customs officials prevented numerous attempts at smuggling various goods, including jewelry, watches, cigarettes, tobacco, foreign currency, car parts, clothing, technical products, supplements, coffee beans, and counterfeit items.

- A passenger arriving by plane from Basel was found to have 19 pieces of jewelry (SWAROVSKI and COEUR.DE) and a watch from ESPIRIT valued at approximately 120,000 dinars, as well as 42,132 dinars worth of duty evasion. A passenger arriving by plane from Vienna had 5 pieces of jewelry (rings and bracelets) and 3 watches from ROLEX and CITIZEN brands. At Skopje International Airport, two Macedonian citizens had a total of 24 pieces of jewelry and 4 watches seized from their travel bags in two separate incidents.

- Mobile customs teams found 23 packs of tax stamp-less aqua blue cigarettes in two suitcases hidden in the factory compartments of a bus with Macedonian license plates upon entering the country at the Deve Bayırı border crossing.

Letter from the Customs Brokers Association addressed to the General Directorate of Customs regarding the "Closure of Export Declarations".

China is ready to incur deeper debt against Trump's tariffs.

China announced that it is prepared to take on deeper debt in order to counter the negative effects of U.S. tariffs on economic growth. Officials stated that they would adopt a "appropriately loose" monetary policy and "more proactive" fiscal measures.

Chinese leaders indicated that they are ready to implement whatever stimulus is necessary to deal with the adverse effects on economic growth next year due to U.S. trade tariffs. In a statement by senior Communist Party officials, it was noted that there will be a shift to an "appropriately loose" monetary policy stance and "more proactive" fiscal levers.

India became the first country to define 'Green Steel' with new emission standards and a star rating system.

Government of India Green Steel Definitions

- Green Steel: Steel produced with less than 2.2 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per ton of finished steel.

- Three-star Green Class Steel: Steel produced with emissions between 2 to 2.2 tons per ton of product.

- Five-star Green Class Steel: Steel produced with emissions below 1.6 tons per ton of product.

- Non-Green Steel: Any steel with emissions higher than 2.2 t-COe2 / tfs will not be considered green steel.

What is Africa's share in global trade and how can this share be increased?

This was the fundamental question behind the export diversification strategy presented by International Economics Consulting Ltd (IEC) at the 1st Extraordinary Technical Committee on Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Mining held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on December 11, 2024.

IEC CEO Paul Baker gave an engaging presentation on the findings of the assessment, highlighting that Africa's small presence in global trade (currently around 3%) can be expanded by leveraging opportunities to negotiate better market access, strengthen and accelerate economies of scale and scope through the AfCFTA, improve the trade-friendly environment, empower the private sector, and invest in promotional efforts.

Digitalization in customs services;

In customs, where 23.7% of Turkey's tax revenues are generated, digital transformation efforts have gained momentum. Bolat stated that millions of vehicles, containers, and passengers have had their transactions completed in the first 10 months of 2023. Innovative applications such as the "Paperless Customs Project," "Port Single Window," and "Free Zones Information System" are making customs processes simple and transparent.

Next-generation hashtag customs applications

Minister Bolat announced that they will gather all electronic customs transactions in a single system with the "BILGE Customs Platform." Pilot applications that utilize artificial intelligence and OCR technologies have been initiated at Esenboğa Customs Administration and in other regions. Projects that digitize air transportation procedures are also being implemented.

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat announced that digital transformation will accelerate in many areas, from company establishment to customs procedures. By 2025, company establishment processes will be fully moved to an electronic environment.

Turkey's slab imports increased by 33.5% in the January-October period.

Turkey's slab imports in October 2024 decreased by 34.2% year-on-year and by 1.2% month-on-month.

According to data compiled by SteelRadar from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), Turkey's slab imports in October rose to 332,489 tons, an increase of 34.2% compared to the same month of the previous year, up from 247,768 tons. However, it decreased by 1.2% compared to the previous month, September. The total slab imports for the January-October period increased by 33.5%.

A final review investigation has been initiated regarding the definitive measures currently in force against dumping for the import of "thick, not exceeding 0.2 mm, aluminum sheets and strips, unbacked, rolled but not further processed" classified under customs tariff position 7607.11 and "others" classified under customs tariff position 7607.19.

You can access the announcement related to the subject via the link below.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sta-gumruk_al%C3%BCminyum-folyo-activity-7272804751660978176-GUDJ/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

An amendment has been made to the Export General Notification.

The relevant change was made to the Export General Notification by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) on December 10, 2024, based on the letter numbered 3600466 from the Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance dated December 10, 2024.

This regulation was made in the Appendix 2 list of the CBRT Export General Notification, and the number of countries to which an exception was granted for bringing the EXPORT PROCEEDS BACK TO THE COUNTRY has increased to 34 with the addition of the Republic of Chad, previously listed as 33.

Critical points of global trade! The world's most active ports

A new report prepared by SteelRadar highlights the world's most active ports, shedding light on the dynamic centers that drive global trade. The ranking is based on an index measuring port activities, emphasizing the critical nodes in the international shipping network.

Leading the list is China's Yangshan Port with an impressive index score of 177.90. It is followed by Salalah in Oman and Tanger-Mediterranean in Morocco, with index scores of 164.72 and 159.56, respectively. These ports play a crucial role in facilitating intercontinental goods flow and underline their strategic importance in global logistics.

The report also includes a world map showing the locations of these top ports and provides a visual representation of their geographical distribution. Notably, Asia dominates the list with multiple entries, including ports in China, Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea, highlighting the region's significant role in global trade.

Since 2020, it is reminded that Canada has been applying anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures against the import of "Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products" originating from our country.

This time, it is stated that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has initiated a new anti-dumping investigation ex officio for one of our companies, which was previously exempt from the anti-dumping measure due to the dumping margin being below 2% (de minimis) in the earlier investigation.

Furthermore, it is indicated that the investigation will examine whether there has been any dumped export from the concerned firm, whether there has been any injury to Canadian domestic producers arising from this export, as well as whether there is a "particular market situation" in our country's corrosion-resistant steel sector.

Russia announced that it will increase the wheat export tax by approximately 32% per ton starting from December 11. 

The Russian Ministry of Agriculture stated that as part of measures aimed at reducing exports, it will raise the wheat export tax to 4,871.5 rubles per ton starting from December 11.

According to the Sovecon consultancy, as a result of the restrictions, Russia's export volume has been decreasing over the past two weeks, and export prices remain unchanged.

Last month, Russia reduced the wheat export quota for the second part of the export season, which will run from February 15 to June 30, 2025, by two-thirds from 29 million tons in the same period last year to 11 million metric tons.

Russia allows unrestricted grain exports during the first half of the export season, from July to January, and then applies quotas to about 260 local traders authorized by officials to sell grain in international markets.

Russia has announced that it will increase the wheat export tax by approximately 32% per ton starting from December 11.

The Russian Ministry of Agriculture stated that as part of measures to reduce exports, it will raise the wheat export tax to 4,871.5 rubles per ton, an increase of about 32% starting from December 11.

According to the Sovecon consulting company, as a result of the restrictions, Russia's export volume has been declining over the past two weeks, and export prices remain unchanged.

Last month, Russia reduced the wheat export quota for the second part of the export season, which will be in effect from February 15 to June 30, 2025, to 11 million metric tons, a two-thirds reduction from the 29 million tons of the same period last year.

During the first half of the export season, from July to January, Russia allows grain exports without a quota and then imposes quotas on approximately 260 domestic traders authorized by officials to sell grain in international markets.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, He Yadong, responded to questions about how to implement the tasks outlined in the Fourth Belt and Road Construction Working Meeting on December 5, stating that adherence to the principles of the Belt and Road will be maintained. The spokesperson expressed that they aim to create new areas for win-win based development by deepening the construction of high-quality mechanisms for the Belt and Road in economic and trade sectors.

Facilitating more trade with Belt and Road partner countries, promoting the establishment of investment cooperation working groups and cooperation mechanisms will be encouraged. The spokesperson mentioned that the role of communication and negotiation mechanisms in areas such as trade, investment, and infrastructure construction will be enhanced. This emphasizes that connections in economic and trade areas will promote closer ties between the peoples of partner countries. Additionally, it was stated that the expansion of trade, investment, and industrial cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries will be actively supported, and the signing of more free trade agreements and investment protection agreements will be encouraged.

He also emphasized that cooperation in areas such as green development, digital economy, blue economy, clean energy, and green mining will be deepened with partner countries. The quality and capacity of e-commerce cooperation in the "Digital Silk Road" will be enhanced. In this regard, the process of joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) will be actively advanced, and policy exchanges and practical collaborations among the parties will be strengthened.

Furthermore, He Yadong mentioned the development of comprehensive overseas service systems and emphasized that the role of connecting and service platforms with overseas companies will be enhanced to protect the legal rights of Chinese capital companies abroad.

Decarbonization of the iron and steel sector: China, India, and the USA  

Iron and steel production currently accounts for approximately 7-8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making decarbonization of this sector essential for achieving net zero and meeting the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C warming limit.

Traditionally viewed as an "intractable" industry, the steel sector now has viable pathways for decarbonization due to recent technological developments, policy commitments, and private investments. However, while it is technically possible to decarbonize the steel sector, countries face different challenges in achieving this at the required pace.

We have recently published this analysis examining the specific challenges faced by three countries: China, India, and the USA – to highlight what is necessary for progress in decarbonizing their steel sectors. By understanding these factors, this report lays the groundwork for our future work on developing specific national metrics.

The main challenge for the steel sector is transitioning from today's dominant blast furnaces, which operate on greenhouse gas-intensive coal-derived coke, to electric arc furnaces (EAFs) that process scrap steel using clean energy or direct reduced iron (DRI) produced with zero-carbon feedstocks like green hydrogen.

The General Directorate of Customs published a letter containing additional explanations on the procedures to be carried out to address uncertainties regarding the implementation of the General Customs Communiqué (Entry into Free Circulation) (Series No: 18).

According to Article 10/6 of the 2024/5 Communiqué on the Import Control of Products Subject to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the importer is held responsible for the appropriate use, delivery, or processing of the goods after their entry into free circulation. It has been stated that necessary precautions must be taken by the importer during sales to avoid any disruptions in obtaining the required information and documents for the determinations to be made by Authorized Customs Consultants (YGM) after the imported products are sold in the domestic market.

To ensure there are no disruptions in obtaining the necessary information and documents for the determinations to be made by Authorized Customs Consultants (YGM) after the imported products are sold in the domestic market, the importer needs to take the necessary precautions during the sale regarding the determination of the product’s usage after its sale in the domestic market.

In line with Article 10/5 of the Communiqué, if any goods that have entered free circulation are sold by the importer without being used or processed after declaring a fixed reference number, it is required for the YGM to notify the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry where the buyer is located (in the format attached to the letter), and this notification should be stated in the YGM report, concluding the report.

The necessary operations will be carried out within the BİLGE system by the relevant customs authorities based on the submitted YGM reports.

Additionally, according to Article 10/6 of the Communiqué No. 2024/5, since the importer is responsible for the appropriate use, delivery, or processing of goods after their entry into free circulation, if it is determined by the internal market inspections conducted by the competent units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry that the goods have been used, delivered, or processed contrary to the declaration, actions must be taken under Article 235/l(c) of the Customs Law No. 4458.

In a statement received from Türkiye İş Bankası's Shanghai Representation, it has been reported that, due to swap transactions conducted by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB) with China, promissory notes to be issued in local currencies within the country will be discounted by TCMB through İş Bankası, with the discounted amount paid to the sellers in the relevant countries.

According to the announcement, the following rates will be applied based on the maturities of the promissory notes accepted for rediscount, with reference to the SHIBOR (Shanghai Interbank Offered Rate) announced on the date of use:

- For promissory notes with a maturity of 30 days: 1 month SHIBOR + 200 basis points,

- For promissory notes with a maturity of 31-90 days: 3 month SHIBOR + 200 basis points,

- For promissory notes with a maturity of 91-180 days: 6 month SHIBOR + 200 basis points,

- For promissory notes with a maturity of 181-270 days: 9 month SHIBOR + 200 basis points,

- For promissory notes with a maturity of 271-365 days: 12 month SHIBOR + 200 basis points.

*If the announced interest rates are negative, an interest rate of 200 basis points will be applied.

Russia and Pakistan have implemented a barter trade mechanism to deepen economic cooperation and mitigate the effects of existing sanctions on the financial system.

The agreement announced at the first Pakistan-Russia Trade and Investment Forum held in Moscow anticipates the direct exchange of food products between the two countries.

Under the barter agreement, Russia's Astarta-Agrotrading company will acquire rice and mandarins in exchange for the export of chickpeas and lentils from Pakistan's Meskay + Femtee Trading Company.

In the initial phase, 20,000 tons of rice will be supplied in exchange for 20,000 tons of chickpeas. With an additional agreement, Russia will import 15,000 tons of mandarins and 10,000 tons of potatoes from Pakistan in exchange for 15,000 tons of chickpeas and 10,000 tons of lentils.

The Biden administration has imposed new restrictions on China in the semiconductor sector. Commerce Secretary Raimondo stated that the strongest restrictions to date have been implemented to curb China's ability to produce advanced technology chips used in its military modernization.

China did not respond; instead, it banned the export of rare metals used in chip production to the U.S. It also mentioned that the list of countries that could be added to the banned list might increase based on the situation. China dominates nearly 90% of rare metals.

China is expecting record exports ahead of new US tariffs as orders are brought forward.

Economists expect Chinese exports to reach a historic peak this year as customers bring forward orders in response to threats from US President-elect Trump that he will impose higher tariffs when he takes office in January.

According to the median estimates of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg between November 15-21, export growth will accelerate to 7% in the last three months compared to the same period last year. This is a higher rate than the 5% increase seen in October, ahead of the US elections, and will push total exports this year to $3.548 trillion, exceeding the previous record set in 2022.

Panic stockpiling to boost exports

“Chinese exports could benefit from panic stockpiling by foreign companies over the next few months,” said Erica Tay, an economist at Maybank Investment Banking Group. “The specter of a trade war is likely to prompt Chinese policymakers to put more emphasis on pro-consumption stimulus measures next year,” he said.

“China’s recent pro-growth drive has the potential to put the economy on a faster track. A trade war with the U.S. in 2025 threatens that possibility. Beijing’s challenge is to turn stimulus plans into growth momentum and protect the economy from another wave of Trump tariffs,” Bloomberg economists Chang Shu, Eric Zhu and David Qu said.

Russia has temporarily banned the export of precious metal waste and scrap from December 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025. The government’s decision aims to increase the capacity of precious metal processing plants in the country.

The Russian government press service said, “A temporary ban on the export of precious metal waste and scrap is being introduced. This decision will increase the production capacity of precious metal processing plants in Russia. The ban will be valid from December 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025.”

The Steel Manufacturers Association of the United States has called on President-elect Donald Trump to strengthen tariffs to support domestic manufacturing.

The association, which represents companies that manufacture 70 percent of the steel produced in the United States and includes Nucor and Steel Dynamics as members of the country's largest steelmakers, shared the steel industry's five-point action plan presented to Trump's transition team.

The statement said that the plan would strengthen manufacturing in the United States, encourage job growth and ensure that America benefits from its carbon advantage.

The statement called on the new administration to take swift action in five areas, noting that tariffs should be strengthened to support domestic manufacturing, unfair trade practices should be opposed, regulations should be stopped, a pro-growth tax policy should be developed and America's environmental advantage should be monetized.

"If necessary, re-impose tariffs and customs duties"

The action plan sent to Trump's team stated that the administration should apply a 25 percent tariff on increasing steel imports from Mexico and closely monitor imports from Canada, and re-impose customs duties if necessary.

The action plan indicated that the quota arrangements made by the US President Joe Biden administration with the European Union, the United Kingdom and Japan should be terminated and that tariffs on steel and steel-intensive products imported from China should be increased to 60 percent.

In the letter presented in the Annex regarding the Filling in of Certificates of Origin and Circulation by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB);

It is stated that the response letter sent to TOBB from the Ministry of Trade regarding the addition of additional information to the fields related to the description of the goods in the certificates of origin and circulation and the writing of information requested by the domestic legislation of the relevant importing country such as the ACID number in exports to Egypt was previously sent.

In the response letter of the aforementioned Ministry regarding the issue, it is explained that it was requested that additional information be added to the "observations" field of the Certificates of Origin in a legible manner, however, it is conveyed that TOBB notified the Ministry that it was not possible to enter the relevant information in the said field.

It is conveyed that another response letter received from the Ministry regarding the issue is presented in the Annex as a result of the initiatives taken by TOBB. The letter continues by requesting that the approval procedures of the relevant documents be completed based on the distinction between preferential and non-preferential certificates of origin and the issues explained in the letter arising from this distinction.

Tax Law on International Purchases Up to $50 - Sao Paulo Commercial Attaché

According to Law No. 14.902 published in the Brazilian Official Gazette on June 28, 2024 and enacted on August 1, 2024 in accordance with Temporary Measure No. 1.236 of June 28, 2024, consumers will pay a 20% Import Tax on products valued up to $50. Above this amount and up to $3,000, the tax will be 60%, with a $20 discount on the tax to be paid.

In addition to the 20% rate, consumers who shop internationally must also pay the 17% Circulation Tax on Goods and Services (ICMS) imposed by the states. According to the government, the 20% import tax will not apply to medicines imported by individuals. In accordance with Article 2 of Provisional Measure 1.271, published in the Brazilian Official Gazette on October 25, 2024, effective until March 31, 2025, under the simplified taxation regime, the import tax rate for final products of classes of medicines imported by individuals for their own or individual use and whose value does not exceed US$10,000 or the equivalent in another foreign currency is 0%.

Since 2016, according to a regulation issued by the Ministry of Finance, medicines imported by individuals with a value up to the limit of US$10,000 are not taxed. In these cases, the import tax rate is 0%,

but the placing of medicines on the market must meet the conditions established by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).

China’s Steel Production Boosts Iron Ore Even as Low Season Begins

Iron ore prices rose this week as Chinese steelmakers produced more of the metal than usual at the start of the low season.

Average crude steel production in the first 20 days of November reached its highest level since 2020, according to data from the China Iron and Steel Association. That pushed iron ore futures up 2.5% this week as mills sourced more of the raw material despite the country’s years-long housing crisis weighing on demand.

“Output has increased because China’s steel inventory levels were low due to production cuts in August and September,” said Steven Yu, a researcher at Mysteel. He said profit margins at mills have also recovered somewhat. A recent Mysteel survey found that 55% of mills were profitable after a collapse in margins earlier in the year.

Iron ore remains one of the worst-performing major commodities, having lost more than a quarter of its value this year. China’s housing market is still reeling and government stimulus has so far had little impact on building materials markets, though hopes of more action in the coming months are providing at least some support.

The UK has announced its biggest ever package of sanctions targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet”, a network of ships used to bypass Western restrictions on Russian oil exports.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy outlined the measures ahead of the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Italy, emphasising the UK’s determination to support Ukraine and cut off Russia’s oil revenues.

The sanctions specifically target 30 vessels carrying significant amounts of Russian oil, bringing the total number of oil tankers sanctioned by the UK to 73.

Russian insurers AlfaStrakhovanie and VSK have also been sanctioned, while the UK has also launched a review of the insurance validity of ships passing through its waters.

With the Decision on Amendments to the Import Regime Decision (Decision Number:  9166), the customs duty on the import of sunflower seeds (non-snack products) classified under GTIPs 1206.00.91.00.19 and 1206.00.99.00.19 was reduced from 27% to 12%.

✅1. In the determination process of the goods specified in Article 10/5 of the Communiqué on Import Control of Products Subject to Control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry numbered 2024/5, products imported by declaring a fixed reference number within the scope of a summary declaration or TIR Carnet or transit declaration and exceeding the total invoice amount of 500,000 TL should be taken as basis.

✅2. In the event that a conformity certificate exists within the scope of other lists of the same Communiqué or in accordance with the provisions of another product safety and control or import Communiqué for goods with a fixed reference number within the scope of Article 10/5 of the said Communiqué, there is no need to request a YGM Report.

✅3. If the total invoice amount of goods declared with a fixed reference number in a declaration within the framework of Article 10/5 of the Communiqué numbered 2024/5 exceeds 500,000 TL, a YGM Report must be sought, and if the total amount of goods declared with a fixed reference number in a declaration exceeds 500,000 TL for goods declared in parts as the content of different invoices, a YGM Report must be sought.

✅4. Considering that the detection reports can be viewed by the customs administration to which they are related, as stated in the YGM Guide annexed to Circular numbered 2024/8, detection agreements and reports will be prepared on a customs administration basis.

✅5. For goods subject to a YGM report within the scope of the NK1 detection code within the framework of the provisions of the customs legislation regarding end use, a YGM report will not be issued within the framework of the General Communiqué numbered 18.

✅6. There is no need to request a YGM report for goods that are exempt from customs duties within the scope of Article 167 of the Customs Law.

Our Ministry has determined that shipments arriving in our country via express cargo or post from abroad have recently been subject to fraudulent activities.

Fraudsters use e-mails, phone calls, messages and other means of communication to send fake and misleading notifications such as "Your shipment is at customs.", "Your shipment was stuck at customs.", "Legal action will be taken against you since illegal substances were detected in your shipment.", "Your cargo cannot be delivered, an additional fee must be paid for its delivery." to our citizens and request them to deposit money.

Therefore, it is vital to confirm the information regarding such notifications received by our citizens.

In postal and express cargo transactions, our Ministry's units and our Ministry's customs administrations do not notify citizens via e-mail, phone calls or messages, and do not request payment via any account number or website link.

On the other hand, the verification of the accuracy of the notifications received from the express cargo company or postal administration authorized by our Ministry regarding your e-commerce purchases that may be subject to postal and express cargo transactions is of great importance, and with the new regulation made by our Ministry, uniformity has been ensured in the notifications to be sent by the postal operator and express cargo companies regarding e-commerce purchases that may be subject to postal and express cargo transactions to our citizens, and the notification format to be made to our citizens for each transaction has been created.

In the same regulation, it has been shared with the public that the contact information of the postal operator and express cargo companies authorized by our Ministry and obliged to make these notifications will be announced on the official website of our Ministry. For this purpose, it can be checked whether the notifications made to our citizens were made from the corporate e-mail address or phone number of the relevant express cargo company or postal administration, together with the notification contents, from the list in the link “https://lnkd.in/gQnDRxKu” prepared.

Our Ministry continues its efforts at full speed to combat fake and deceptive notifications, and all kinds of precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of our citizens and their ability to shop safely.

Respectfully announced to the public.

Based on the letter received from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), it was previously announced that the European Commission will hold a webinar on November 20, 2024 at 12:00 for public institutions and business representatives regarding the effects of the Import Control System-2 (ICS2), one of the electronic customs systems implemented in the European Union (EU), on the road and rail transport sectors.

This time, in the letter received from the Ministry of Trade; it is stated that the aforementioned seminar is planned to be followed via the online link below.

In addition, it is stated that the webinar, which will be held in English and will not provide translation services, is aimed at road and rail transport, and that it may be beneficial for representatives operating in other transport sectors such as airline and maritime to participate in the webinar in question.

In this context, the necessary link for our companies to participate in the webinar is provided below.

https://eib.li/12296

There has been an amendment to the list numbered (II) annex of the Council of Ministers Decision numbered 2007/13033 on the Determination of Value Added Tax Rates.

According to the amendment made in the 18th row of the list numbered (II) regarding the goods and services subject to a 10% VAT rate;

- The VAT rate for special medical foods licensed or allowed to be imported by the Ministry of Health has become 10%. In addition, if special medical foods licensed or allowed to be imported by the Ministry of Health, human medical products, active substances in the composition of human medical products and raw materials used in the production of active substances are also included in the list numbered (I), the rate determined in the list numbered (II) will be applied.

Devices subject to the provisions of the “Medical Device Regulation” and “In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation” that are subject to Special Consumption Tax will also be subject to VAT at the general rate. Among the devices within the scope of the relevant Regulation, goods included in position 85.17 of the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule will also be subject to VAT at the general rate.

Import of Certain Solar Panels to Uzbekistan to be Restricted from 2025

Starting January 1, 2025, import of solar panels, inverters and electrical storage systems from companies not included in the BNEF Tier-1 international list will be prohibited in Uzbekistan. This is stipulated in the Presidential Decree of September 11, which has not been made public.

The BNEF Tier-1 list should be regularly published on the official websites of the Ministry of Energy and the Customs Committee and updated monthly.

Although the document was adopted in September, the Ministry of Energy has not yet announced the planned restrictions.

ING analysts said that China's cancellation of export tax rebates for products such as aluminum and copper could lead to a shift in trade dynamics and could prompt countries dependent on Chinese aluminum to seek alternatives amid limited global production capacity.

China's Finance Ministry announced on Friday that it will reduce or cancel export tax rebates for a wide range of commodities and other products effective Dec. 1. Accordingly, China will cancel tax rebates for aluminum and copper products.

ING analysts predict that the removal of rebates will lead to an increase in the global cost of Chinese aluminum and a decrease in export volumes in the near term.

"The global aluminum market is expected to return to deficit from 2026," the analysts said in a note.

China, the world's largest aluminum producer, introduced export tax rebates in 1985 to increase the global competitiveness of its products and attract global buyers.

In parallel with the development of trade between Russia and China, the transport and logistics lines between the two countries are also developing.

The Russian government has approved a plan for the implementation of the strategy for the socio-economic development of the Siberian Federal District until 2035. The plan includes a number of large-scale projects, especially for the development of railway infrastructure, but the largest of these will be implemented in the distant future.

As the volume of trade with China increases, the current transport lines become insufficient, and the Russian government is discussing a plan to plan and open new railway and road transport corridors to China by 2025.

The new development plan adopted by the government includes the creation of the North Siberian Railway from Siberia to China, a route to China via Altai, the resumption of construction of the Kyzyl-Kuragino railway, and new transport corridors to China via Mongolia.

The Russian government is proposing to conduct feasibility studies or evaluate existing plans. The government does not provide full details of the investment plan in the published document.

According to experts, existing roads to China do not meet the need and new roads are needed and they need to be developed properly.

The US has provided $6.6 billion in government support for Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer TSMC’s Arizona factory project. The second Arizona factory, scheduled to start production in 2028, will use the world’s most advanced 2-nanometer technology.

The US Department of Commerce announced that $6.6 billion in government support was provided to the semiconductor factory to be built in Phoenix, Arizona by Taiwan-based Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC).

This support stands out as the first major incentive given under the $52.7 billion program established in 2022 and aimed at increasing domestic semiconductor production in the US.

The completion of the agreement follows a preliminary agreement announced in April and was signed just a few weeks before Donald Trump took office as president.

TSMC aims to increase its Arizona investments by $25 billion, bringing the total to $65 billion, and to build a third factory by 2030.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized that TSMC will produce the world's most advanced semiconductor technologies in the US, saying, "When we started this business, many people thought TSMC would only produce 5 or 6 nanometers. However, they produce their most sophisticated chips here."

TSMC's second Arizona factory, which is expected to be operational in 2028, will produce 2-nanometer chips. In addition, it was announced that the most advanced chip production technology called "A16" will be used in Arizona.

The support provided also includes low-cost government loans of up to $5 billion. TSMC will benefit from cash incentives as it completes certain targets in the later stages of the project.

Russian Presidential Advisor Anton Kobakov announced that negotiations on the establishment of free trade zones with Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia are ongoing.

“We attach great importance to deepening cooperation in trade and investment with African countries,” Kobakov said during the ministerial conference at the Forum on Russia-Africa Cooperation. “Russia’s participation in infrastructure projects and support for economic operators will play a critical role in this process. In this context, free trade agreements with African countries can be an important element of partnership,” he said.

Negotiations with South Africa and other countries continue

Kobakov noted that active negotiations on standardization of trade and investment legislation with South Africa, Zimbabwe, Angola, Zambia, Mozambique and Nigeria are ongoing. He also stressed the growing mutual interest in expanding economic ties between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and African integration groups.

The Rosselkhoznadzor) announced that it has imposed temporary restrictions on live poultry, hatching and edible eggs, chicken meat, chicken products and all other poultry products from Konya province of Turkey as of November 12, 2024.

The ban was put into effect following the increase in bird flu cases in Turkey. At the same time, live poultry transits from Konya via Russia were also stopped.

Bird Flu Seen Again in Turkey

On November 2, bird flu was detected in an egg production facility in the Meram district of Konya in Turkey. Although the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry described the case as “isolated,” the fact that bird flu has also been seen in Eskişehir draws attention to the risk of spreading the situation.

Bird Flu and Tansmission Routes

Bird flu is a diseae caused by the Influenza A (H5N1) virus, which is especially common among waterfowl. This disease, which can be transmitted to humans, can also be transmitted through close contact with infected birds or through consumption of undercooked poultry.

Excluding Processed Products

Rosselkhoznadzor announced that processed products that are free of avian influenza viruses in accordance with the standards of the World Organization for Animal Health are not included in the restrictions. However, feed and feed additives for birds, with the exception of plant and chemically synthesized feed additives, are also subject to restrictions.

Gross customs revenues collected by the Montenegrin Customs Administration from January to the end of October amounted to 91 million Euros, an increase of 9% compared to the same period last year.

Planned revenues for the period from January to the end of October were exceeded by 16.7 million euros, or 2%, the Customs Authority said in a press release.

According to the structure of the collected revenues, growth was achieved in the collection of all kinds of taxes.

“The most significant revenue increase was seen in SCT, which reached €318.7 million, an increase of €42 million, or 15%, compared to the previous year,” the press release stated.

Gross revenues from value added tax (VAT) on imports reached €709.2 million in the reporting period, an increase of €42 million, or 6%, compared to last year.

"Customs duty revenues reached EUR 50.5 million, an increase of EUR 6.7 million or 15% compared to the same period last year. Coffee tax revenues reached EUR 2.2 million, while other revenues reached EUR 104,000," the Customs Authority reported.

In a letter received from the Turkish Exporters Assembly, it is stated that the "exporter" section of the proof of origin and circulation documents should be filled in accordance with the customs declaration and attached documents related to the goods; and that information not foreseen in the relevant legislation should not be entered in the "goods description" section of the proof of origin and circulation documents. On the other hand, with reference to the letter received from the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Turkey, it is stated that the request to write the ACID number on the EUR.1 and EUR-MED Circulation Documents issued either manually or electronically via MEDOS in our country is not deemed appropriate, and in order to prevent our exports from being negatively affected, it is stated that if requested by the exporter, the relevant number can be added to the said documents by the exporter, legal representative or importer after the visa process of the EUR.1 and EUR-MED Circulation Documents by hand with an ink pen or by sticking it on an adhesive label.

The letter continued, stating that in the letter received from the General Directorate of Exports regarding the subject, efforts are ongoing to remove the requirement to write the ACID number on the proof of origin documents; in order to prevent exports from being interrupted until the said efforts are concluded positively and based on the provisions of Article 25 of Protocol No. 3, which determines the rules of origin of the current FTA between our country and Egypt;

- It is stated that it is appropriate for the exporter to enter information such as ACID number, company registration number, invoice number, etc. in a field where it is possible to write information systematically as a single set on EUR.1 and EUR-MED Circulation Documents issued for export to Egypt within the scope of the FTA in MEDOS during the document application,

- It is stated that the ACID number should be written with an ink pen or on an adhesive label by the exporter, the legal representative of the exporter or the importer for EUR.1 and EUR-MED Circulation Documents not issued for export to Egypt within the scope of the FTA, and for documents issued in MEDOS but for which the ACID number could not be entered during the export phase.

Import unit value index increased by 4.7%

The import unit value index increased by 4.7% in September compared to the same month of the previous year. The index increased by 8.2% in food, beverages and tobacco, decreased by 3.7% in fuels, increased by 5.3% in raw materials (excluding fuels), and increased by 4.3% in manufacturing (excluding food, beverages and tobacco) compared to the same month of the previous year.

Import quantity index decreased by 5.8%

The import quantity index decreased by 5.8% in September compared to the same month of the previous year. The index decreased by 9.0% in food, beverages and tobacco, increased by 4.1% in raw materials (excluding fuels), decreased by 13.1% in fuels, and increased by 2.1% in manufacturing (excluding food, beverages and tobacco) compared to the same month of the previous year.

Import unit value and quantity indexes, September 2024

[2015=100]

Special Certificate of Origin (FORM-A) Usage Period

In the letter received from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye; It is stated that Special Certificate of Origin (FORM-A) Documents with the expression "Turkey" on the back side can be used until 31 December 2024 (including this date) and that such documents will not be used after 31 December 2024, and it is presented for your information.

Gemlik Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Problems Experienced in Approval of Circulation and Origin Certificates

Gemlik Chamber of Commerce and Industry has received notifications that there are problems in the approval phase of circulation documents and proof of origin documents subject to export, and that the personnel on duty are causing delays in transactions made by paying overtime, especially outside of working hours. We kindly request that the problems regarding the issue be conveyed to our association by 13.11.2024 to be conveyed to Gemlik Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

✔️ 🟢 Using Green Steel Will Cost Car Manufacturers More Initially Before It Becomes Cheaper in 2040

According to the analysis by Ricardo41, the cost difference between the Ambitious and Conventional ‘do nothing’ scenarios for steel content peaks at just €43 per passenger car in 2030 and then decreases between 2030 and 2050, resulting in cost savings of €9 per car in 2040 and €53 per car in 2050. The total cost of steel content in 2030 for both scenarios is €462 and €419, respectively. This means that a car using close to 50% green steel in 2030 (in line with the assumptions of the Ambitious scenario) will cost car manufacturers only €43 more per car produced than one produced today.

For a car using 100% green H2-DRI steel in 2030 (the highest cost option), the steel content cost is higher than in the Ambitious scenario, reaching a total steel content cost of €524 per vehicle in 2030 (25% higher or €105 more than using conventional steel).

Cost assumptions and inputs for low-carbon steel predict that all green steel scenarios will result in a cost saving for carmakers from 2040 onwards, as the price of key raw materials, such as renewable electricity and hydrogen, falls and infrastructure becomes more widely available.

🇺🇸 🚩 US commodities giant Dow said it will remain committed to the Chinese market with stable investments and stronger partnerships to seize the opportunities brought by the country's transition to a greener and smarter economy.

"We are very optimistic about the growth plans in China and believe that innovation in China will grow and benefit beyond our region," Dow Asia Pacific President Puay Koon Chia told Xinhua on the sidelines of the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE).

This year marks the 45th anniversary of Dow, a multinational firm, entering China, its largest overseas market outside the US. The company has established a wide network in China to focus on the innovation, development and production of chemicals, plastics and advanced materials applied in sectors such as packaging, infrastructure, consumer care and new energy.

Koon noted that the Chinese economy is shifting from rapid growth to high-quality development, and highlighted customers' increasing demand for circular and low-carbon solutions. “This transformation is truly a game changer.”

This was also Dow’s seventh appearance at the show, making the company a full-time CIIE exhibitor. Over the course of seven CIIE sessions, Dow introduced nearly 90 new products and technologies through the platform and signed more than 50 strategic partnership agreements.

🇬🇷 🚩 ECB/Stournaras: European economy damaged by Trump's tariffs

Central Bank Governor and ECB Governing Council Chairman Yannis Stournaras said that if Donald Trump fulfills his terms regarding customs tariffs and trade barriers, the Greek economy will be damaged and this will affect the European Central Bank policy.

Stating that Donald Trump's campaign promises on tariffs, fiscal policy and immigration rates have realistically increased "certain economies" on the economy, Stournaras said, "This will have a negative impact on the European economy and will also have an impact on the exchange rate, so this will have a certain impact on our monetary policy." "This situation will perhaps increase inflation in the USA, at least temporarily, so the Fed will react to this," he said.

Stournaras added that the real outcome depends on the policies that the new US administration will implement and that the ECB policy will continue on its current course while the world awaits concrete actions from Washington.

Kosovo Customs announced that customs officers at the customs terminal in Vermica managed to find expired goods inside a barge during a detailed inspection.

Expired products such as chewing gum, candy, biscuits and spices were detected.

More than 3000 thousand packages were seized. 

"An importer had presented for customs clearance a commercial cargo selected for control based on a risk analysis carried out by Kosovo Customs. During this inspection, customs officials, in the presence of phytosanitary inspectors, examined goods including bakery products, chewing gum, mastic cakes, cookies and spices." It detected many expired goods. While some of these products were loaded in the middle of the refrigerated cargo, some were hidden at the bottom of the cargo and camouflaged with products with regular expiration dates.

 Following this discovery, the importer shall comply with paragraph 1.2 of the 1st paragraph of Article 244 of the Kosovo Customs and Excise Code (KDAK). "While being charged with customs offenses pursuant to clause 1, goods (more than 3000 packages) began to be seized," says Kosovo Customs.

sta customs consultancy 

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Turkish automotive industry made sales of 18 billion 1 million 709 thousand dollars to European Union (EU) countries in 9 months.

According to the information compiled from the data of Uludağ Automotive Industry Exporters Association, the exports of the automotive industry in the January-September period increased by 5.3 percent compared to the same period of 2023, increasing from 25 billion 574 million 639 thousand dollars to 26 billion 933 million 806 thousand dollars.

The automotive sector, which exports to more than 190 countries, autonomous and free zones, received a 16.2 percent share of Türkiye's exports in the January-September period of this year.

When looked at on a country basis, EU countries ranked first with a share of 66.9 percent in Turkey's automotive exports in the January-September period.

Exports of 18 billion 1 million 709 thousand dollars were made to these countries in 9 months, an increase of 3 percent compared to the same period last year. Thus, EU countries maintained their position as the most important market in automotive exports.

Exports to the "other European countries" group, which the United Kingdom was included in after leaving the EU, increased by 33 percent to 3 billion 750 million 192 thousand dollars.

Automotive exports amounted to 1 billion 294 million 463 thousand dollars to the "Commonwealth of Independent States" group, 1 billion 111 million 677 thousand dollars to the "North American Free Trade countries" group, and 1 billion 2 million 468 thousand dollars to the "African countries" group.

In January-August 2024, Turkey's iron exports to Kazakhstan increased by 28.2 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching 40.5 million dollars.

"In August this year, Turkey exported 4.2 percent of iron to Kazakhstan; this rate is 26.5 percent less than in August last year," the ministry said.

Let us note that Turkey's iron exports decreased by 3.6 percent in the January-August period of 2024 compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching 8 billion 245 million dollars.

"In August this year, Türkiye exported iron worth 1.8 billion dollars, which is 1.5 percent more than in August last year," the ministry said.

It was recorded that Turkey exported 12 billion 155 million dollars of iron in the last 12 months (August 2023-August 2024).

Ukrayna menşeli çelik ithalatına gümrük vergisi indirimleri ve kota bazlı tercihli uygulamalar tanındığı görülmektedir.

It is observed that duty reductions and quota-based preferential applications were granted to steel imports originated from Ukraine.

The agreement is expected to come into force as of January 1, 2025, after the official approval of the Agreement by the Ukranian government.

According to the Free Trade Agrement published, on imports of Türkiye from Ukraine;
⭕ Billet and Slab will have 30% Customs Duty Reduction (15.68% instead of 22.4%)
⭕ Non Alloy Hot Rolled Coil (HRC) will be exempted from Customs duty for an annual quota of 120.000 tons.
⭕ Non Alloy Cold Rolled Coil (CRC) will be subject to reduced 6% Customs Duty for an annual quota of 70.000 tons.
⭕ Non Alloy Coated Flat Steel will have 30% Customs Duty Reduction
⭕ Non Alloy Wire Rod will be subject to reduced 10% Customs Duty for an annual quota of 50.000 tons.
⭕ Rebar will be subject to reduced 10% Customs Duty for an annual quota of 100.000 tons.
⭕ Sections will have 20% Customs Duty Reduction (13.6% instead of 17%)
⭕ Alloy Flat Steel will be subject to reduced 3% Customs Duty for an annual quota of 20.000 tons.
Quantities exceeding the quota will be subject to the MFN Customs Duty rate (Customs Duty rates applicable for 3rd countries).

We are here to ensure that you reach your goal with your customs procedures. In the complex and dynamic nature of international trade, we simplify and accelerate the process for you with our expert staff and advanced technologies. We offer error-free and efficient solutions for your transactions with our team familiar with customs legislation.

Our team is well-versed in all the intricacies of customs legislation, with years of experience and deep knowledge. We provide accurate and effective solutions by guiding you in your export and import transactions. It's our job to manage complex customs processes.

In the rapidly changing world of trade, we work to complete your customs procedures quickly and efficiently. By completing your processes as soon as possible, we save you time and costs. We are here to help your business continue without any disruption.

Thanks to our modern digital infrastructure, you can instantly follow every stage of your customs procedures and have detailed information about the process. Our digital solutions ensure your transactions are transparent and accessible. We always aim to provide clear and understandable information to our customers.

As STA Customs Consultancy, we always prioritize customer satisfaction. We are with you at every step of your trade with our reliable and transparent service approach. Your success is our success.

Surveillance arrangements have been made for the import of typed motherboards used in mobile phones.

The "Communiqué on Amendments to the Communiqué on the Implementation of Surveillance in Imports" prepared by the Ministry of Commerce came into force after being published in the Official Gazette.

Accordng to the information obtained from the Ministry, taking into account the contribution of the companies producing in Turkey to the economy and the employment they create, surveillance practices can be put into effect in the legislation for the import of certain products in order to closely monitor the course of imports of the products they produce.

In this context, with the communiqué in question, surveillance is implemented in the import of some phones and their parts.

As a result of the investigation, it was determined that the surveillance applied to the mobile phone was avoided by importing the "sequenced main card", one of the important parts of the mobile phone.

In order to prevent this, an amendment was made to the communiqué and the definition of the goods related to motherboards was rearranged as "Others (motherboards that belong only to telephone devices and have at least one component arranged on them)". Accordingly, the import of the goods in question will be subject to surveillance at a unit customs value of 100 dollars per piece.

As STA Customs Consultancy, we bring all processes of global trade to the palm of your hand. With our advanced technological infrastructure and expert team, we offer the fastest and most reliable service in your export and import transactions. We are here to make your business easier and provide you with a competitive advantage in the global market.

The right address for those looking for speed and reliability in customs procedures! You can now carry out all your customs procedures online and save time and money.

The UK Trade Ministry announced that the two countries have reached a consensus on holding the first round of negotiations to update the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Turkey and the UK by the end of July.

The UK Trade Ministry made a statement following the inter-delegation meeting between Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and UK Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds in London today.

The statement indicated that how trade between the two countries could be expanded was discussed, and said, "There is a strong economic relationship between the UK and Turkey. Trade between the two countries reached approximately £28 billion in 2024, and Turkey is the UK's 16th largest trading partner. Currently, British companies export goods and services worth £9.3 billion to Türkiye's growing market of 86 million."

The statement reported that the ministers confirmed the importance and strength of the trade relationship between the UK and Turkey and stated that they will continue to target increased trade and investment with closer cooperation, and also underlined the importance of defending free trade.

The statement said that the ministers confirmed their intention to hold the first round of negotiations to update the FTA by the end of July, and noted the following:

"At the end of the meeting, ministers signed the updated chapter of the Technical Trade Barriers (TTE) section, an amendment to the UK-Turkey FTA of 2020. This section aims to reduce costs and facilitate trade for companies by closely aligning with the regulations in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the European Union."

According to the information in the statement, the UK is the world's second largest service sector exporter, but the services sector accounted for 34 percent of exports to Türkiye in 2024.

The Turkish economy is currently the world's 17th largest economy, and is expected to be the world's 12th largest and Europe's 4th largest economy by 2050.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that China opposes the decision and will take decisive countermeasures to protect its own rights and interests.

The statement, which emphasized that the practice that the US calls "reciprocal tariffs" is based on subjective and one-sided assessments, does not comply with international trade rules, and threatens the legitimate rights and interests of the parties involved, said, "This is a typical unilateral bullying practice. 

This will not only harm the US's own interests, but also endanger global economic development and supply chain stability."

US President Donald Trump, who announced separate tariff rates for each country, included Türkiye in the group of countries that will be subject to a minimum customs duty of 10 percent.

US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that as of Thursday, April 3, the US will apply reciprocal tariffs to other countries and that the minimum customs duty rate will be 10 percent.

US President Trump, who announced separate tariff rates for each country, included Türkiye in the group of countries that will be subject to a minimum customs duty of 10 percent.

A critical change has been made to the customs calculation for cargo coming to Turkey from abroad. Now cargo and shipping costs will also be taxed, increasing import costs. You will definitely need to consider this detail before placing an order. The decision was published in the Official Gazette.

https://www.tgrthaber.com/ekonomi/yurt-disi-siparislerinde-yeni-donem-gumruk-vergisine-ek-surpriz-kargo-ucretleri-dahil-3205688

The UK Trade Measures Agency (TRA) has recommended that anti-dumping and countervailing measures on organic coated steel (OCS) imported from China be maintained until 2029.

In a report publised by the TRA, it has recommended that anti-dumping and countervailing measures on organic coated steel (OCS) imported from China be maintained for a further five years (until 4 May 2029). The TRA stated in its Statement of Basic Facts (SEF) that if the measures were lifted, dumping and subsidy practices were likely to continue, which would harm the UK industry.

Organic coated steel is used in the construction sector in particular to protect the durability of various structures, as well as in metal furniture, heating and ventilation ducts, casings and various household appliances. Currently, anti-dumping measures on organic coated steel imported from China range from 5.9 to 26.1 percent, while countervailing measures range from 13.7 to 44.7 percent, depending on the exporter.

You can access the customs practices of the United Arab Emirates, which is one of the important e-commerce markets for our country, and passenger exemptions information within the scope of the issues that business people who will travel to the United Arab Emirates should pay attention to, in our Country Customs Practices Mini Guide.

The new U.S. steel tariffs will intensify competition in the global marketplace by disrupting a multibillion-dollar supply chain that moves steel from China to the U.S. via third countries, undermining a vital source of sales for China’s struggling steel industry.

Since trade barriers in 2016 and 2018 pushed most Chinese steel out of the U.S., mills in countries with relatively freer access have bought cheap Chinese steel and reprocessed it to sell it to the U.S.

The 25% steel tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump will impose on March 12 will disrupt that trade, hitting sales estimated to be nearly a tenth of China’s steel exports, worth about $7 billion last year, Reuters reported, citing four leading Chinese steel consultancies.

The prospect of that steel flooding the global market, already flooded with Chinese steel, is triggering another wave of protectionism, much of it aimed at China, in a further blow to its exports.

“Increased trade frictions will put pressure on China’s steel exports,” the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute, a state-backed research organization, said in a note last week. “Lower exports and profits could lead to further declines in profitability for some companies,” it added.

More trade barriers and fiercer competition over a smaller export pie are a problem for all steel-exporting countries, but they are particularly difficult for China’s steel sector, which is likely to be disproportionately targeted by tariffs.

Japan's auto industry association called on the government on Tuesday to protect Japanese automakers from U.S. tariffs on car and parts imports.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association is concerned that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration would impose heavy tariffs on car imports from Japan, Mexico and Canada, which would hurt both countries' economies, said JAMA Chairman Masanori Katayama.

Trump said last week that he wants to impose a 25% tariff on car imports starting April 2. Separate 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum are scheduled to begin on March 12.

Katayama, who is also the chairman of Isuzu Motors, made the remarks at the start of a meeting with Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto in Tokyo.

EU considers tightening steel import quotas amid Trump’s new tariffs

The European Commission is considering tightening steel import quotas to protect EU manufacturers from new tariffs that US President Trump plans to impose on steel and aluminium from March 12. The EU has had three-month, tariff-free quotas since 2018 to prevent metal exports from spilling over and being diverted to the EU. Trump’s new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium will apply to all countries, removing exemptions and duty-free quotas.

Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development plans to export over 7.5 million tons of rice in 2025, mostly from the Mekong Delta region.

The region is expected to produce approximately 24 million tons of rice this year. 

About 4.53 million tons of rice will be exported in the first half of the year, while the remaining 3 million tons will be exported in the second half of the year, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Monday.

According to 2023 data, Russia rose to third place among the countries with the largest increase in automobile production.

The country produced a total of 756 thousand vehicles with a production increase of 213 thousand units, and was right after India.

Countries ncreasing Automobile Production Remained in a Minority

The number of countries that increased automobile production worldwide remained limited. The countries with the largest production increases were:

• India – 309 thousand units increase

• Russia – 213 thousand units increase (756 thousand vehicles in total)

• Brazil – 75 thousand units increase (1.9 million vehicles in total)

• Czech Republic – 46 thousand units increase (1.3 million vehicles in total)

• Germany – 28 thousand units increase (4.2 million vehicles in total)

The Biggest Decrease Was in Indonesia

On the other hand, production in some countries declined significantly. Indonesia was the country with the largest decrease in automobile production, with production decreasing by 50% to 1 million vehicles.

Other countries experiencing a decline in production:

• Japan – 377,000 units decreased (7 million vehicles in total)

• Iran – 305,000 units decreased (658,000 vehicles in total, the lowest level since 2015)

• USA – 206,000 units decreased (1.6 million vehicles in total)

Russia’s rapid increase in car production is considered a sign that the country is entering a recovery process in the automotive sector.

Baghdad Commercial Consultancy: Based on the decisions of the Iraqi Council of Ministers dated November 6, 2024, a 75% additional customs duty (IGV) was imposed on the "Ketchup" and "Mayonnaise" products under the HS Codes 2103.20 and 2103.90 for 4 years in order to protect domestic production. It is envisaged that the IGV will begin to be implemented as of March 6, 2025, 120 days after the date of the Decision.

Donald Trump, who first imposed various tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, targets steel and aluminum, which are widely used in many industries, especially construction and transportation.

According to data, Türkiye ranks in the top 10 in the world in steel production. A total of 36.9 million tons of steel production took place in Turkey in 2024. However, Türkiye is not among the countries from which the USA imports the most steel. According to TÜİK data, Türkiye exported a total of 233 million 476 thousand dollars of iron and steel to the USA in 2024.

Canada will take the biggest hit from the new aluminum and steel tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. The USA imported a total of 7.1 billion dollars worth of steel from Canada in 2024. During the said period, a total of 9.4 billion dollars of aluminum purchases were made.

The EU is the second partner that will be most affected by the 25 percent tax tariff applied to aluminum and steel imports. The USA imported a total of $1.5 billion worth of aluminum in 2024. Steel imports between the parties in 2024 amounted to 7 billion dollars.

Mineral Export Ban from Malawi 

Malawi Ministry of Mines has introduced a ban on the export of precious stones and precious metals to ensure various reforms and regulations to increase efficiency and transparency in the mining sector. It was stated that it would take 21 days to complete the reform work in question, and a statement was made that the licenses of investors and companies that already have mining licenses would not be canceled, but only exports were banned and new mining export licenses would not be issued during this period.

It is possible for our companies that export minerals from Malawi to get information regarding this issue by calling 0884442200 or by sending an e-mail to minfo@mining.gov.mv.

Based on the decisions of the General Directorate of Customs dated 25.06.2024 and numbered 97937194, in the 2nd paragraph of Article 238 of the Customs Law, "If the goods specified in subparagraphs (c) and (d) of the first paragraph are not subjected to another customs-approved transaction or use within sixty days from the date of notification, an administrative fine in the amount of customs duties is also imposed." Pursuant to the "It is said" provision, the lawsuit filed against the customs duties requested pursuant to Article 184 of the Customs Law for goods exported beyond this period was concluded in favor of the company, and a copy of the decision is attached.

After the end of the 61-year Baath regime in Syria and the establishment of a new government, there was a great increase in exports from the Cilvegözü Customs Gate in Hatay's Reyhanlı district. Exports to Syria increased by 35 percent in January, reaching a transaction volume of 219 million dollars.

US to impose additional tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminum

During his first presidential term in March 2018, US President Trump imposed customs duties of 25 percent and 10 percent on steel and aluminum imports, respectively. 

However, some countries, including Canada, Mexico and Australia, were later granted exemptions, while duty-free quota agreements based on pre-tariff volumes were made for Brazil, South Korea and Argentina.

Under the administration of former US President Joe Biden, England, Japan and the European Union were added to the trade partners that were granted quotas.

During his second term as president, Trump signed decrees to impose a 25 percent customs duty on steel and aluminum imports, regardless of country. 

The new tax rates came into force as of February 10, 2025.

Previously granted exemptions and exceptions have been abolished. The effective date of taxes for countries that were previously exempted is March 12, 2025.

Shipment of cement and iron from Turkey to Syria by sea has started.

Medcem Cement Group made the first cement shipment by sea.

The tax regime for Turkish cement has been equalized.

In accordance with the Türkiye-Syria Free Trade Agreement, the two countries also provide tax exemption for products to be shipped from their ports to other countries.

Concerning Customs Services to be Provided in Trade with the Syrian Arab Republic - Circular No. 2025/4 and its Annexes - 11 February 2025

You can access the Circular No. 2025/4, Application Form and Goods Lists, which were prepared to determine the procedures and principles regarding the customs services to be provided in export, import and transit transactions carried out by road between our country and the Syrian Arab Republic (Syria), from the links below.

Article by the General Directorate of Customs on "Public Veterinarians' Strike in Greece".

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sta-gumruk_yunanistanda-kamu-veterinerlerinin-grevi-activity-7294770580300472321-8NYJ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Marmaraereğlisi Customs Directorate became an important trade center with exports of 280 million dollars.

Through Marmaraereğlisi Customs Directorate, 280 million dollars of exports were made to many countries, especially the USA, Morocco, Greece, Venezuela, Turkmenistan and Algeria.

Marmaraereğlisi Customs Directorate, which was established under the Western Marmara Customs and Trade Regional Directorate within the scope of the protocol signed between the Ministry of Commerce and Martaş Marmaraereğlisi Liman Tesisleri AŞ, started to serve last year.

The directorate carries out customs transactions and operations of businesses that export and import.

Last year, Marmaraereğlisi Customs Directorate carried out transactions on 840 incoming and 837 outgoing ships.

Within the scope of the transactions, mostly rebar, flour and chemicals were exported to the USA, Morocco, Greece, Venezuela, Turkmenistan and Algeria.

Last year, 280 million dollars of exports were achieved through Marmaraereğlisi Customs Directorate.

China has included in its export control list products containing various chemical elements such as tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum and indium. According to the joint statement made by the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs on Tuesday, the policy change will come into force within the day.

Özbekistan'da Üretilmeyen Laboratuvar Ekipmanları 2028 Yılı Başına Kadar Gümrük Vergisinden Muaf Tutulacak-Taşkent Ticaret Müşavirliği

2025-2027 döneminde Özbekistan'ın elektrik mühendisliği endüstrisinin ilerlemesi için temel yönleri ana hatlarıyla belirten, böylece sektörü yeni bir aşamaya taşımayı amaçlayan "Elektrik Mühendisliği Endüstrisinin Geliştirilmesi İçin Ek Önlemler Hakkında" Cumhurbaşkanı Kararı kabul edildi.

1 Şubat 2025'ten itibaren aşağıdaki destek önlemleri uygulanacaktır:
Gümrük işleme rejimi kapsamında işlenen ürünlerin, endüstriyel işbirliği çerçevesi kapsamında sonraki üreticiler tarafından daha fazla yeniden işlenmesine izin verilecektir;

Araştırma ve geliştirme merkezleri tarafından kullanılmak üzere ithal edilen ve Özbekistan'da üretilmeyen laboratuvar ekipmanları ve aletleri, 1 Şubat 2028'e kadar gümrük vergilerinden muaf tutulacaktır.

Ek olarak, %50'den fazla devlet hissesine sahip olan idari binalar, sosyal altyapı projeleri ve idari binaların inşasıyla ilgili satın alma belgeleri için yeni talepler getirilecektir:

Müteahhitlerin, gerekli malları üretici ekosistemi ve Elektronik İşbirliği Portalı aracılığıyla yerel üreticilerden tedarik etmeleri gerekecektir;

İstenilen mallar bu portallarda mevcut değilse, teyitli belgelere dayanarak diğer elektronik platformlardan satın alınabilir.

Üretici ekosistemi içindeki işlemler, sözleşme değerleriyle ilgili kısıtlamalar olmaksızın ve yerel olarak üretilen mallar için sertifikasyon verileri kullanılarak oluşturulan tekliflere dayalı olarak, hükümet müşterileri ve üreticiler arasında elektronik mağaza prosedürü aracılığıyla gerçekleştirilecektir.

Starting from February 5, the wheat export tax in Russia will decrease by 11% from 4,430.1 rubles per ton to 3,941.6 rubles. This information was announced by the Russian Ministry of Agriculture.

The barley export tax will drop from 3,407.8 rubles to 3,012.5 rubles, and the corn export tax will decrease from 4,659.1 rubles to 4,255.3 rubles.

The tax rates were calculated based on export price indicators. The price for wheat was set at 240.9 dollars per ton (unchanged from the previous period), for barley at 215.3 dollars (unchanged from the previous period), and for corn at 234 dollars (up from 233 dollars in the previous period).

These rates will be valid until February 11.

Since June 2, 2021, a "grain buffer mechanism" has been implemented for grain exports in Russia. Under this mechanism, variable taxes were imposed on the export of wheat, corn, and barley, and the revenue generated is transferred as subsidies to agricultural producers. The tax rates are calculated weekly based on the prices of registered export contracts on the Moscow Exchange.

Initially, the base price for tax calculation was set at 15,000 rubles per ton for wheat, and 13,875 rubles per ton for barley and corn. In June 2023, these prices were raised to 17,000 and 15,875 rubles, respectively.

As of June 28, 2024, the base prices were updated once again: 18,000 rubles per ton for wheat, and 16,875 rubles per ton for barley and corn.

The strict import quotas imposed by the European Union on steel are creating significant challenges for North African exporters, particularly those from Egypt and Algeria.

The import quota for rebar for the first quarter of 2025 has already been exceeded, leading to financial and logistical difficulties for importers. As of January 1, shipments of rebar unloaded and cleared at various EU ports exceeded the permitted limit of 132,000 tons for the category "other countries," which includes Egypt and Algeria, by 30,000 tons, totaling 160,000 tons.

Due to this overrun, all shipments exceeding the quota will be subject to a 25% customs duty, creating significant cost pressures on steel buyers in the EU market. This situation discourages importers from making additional purchases from these sources as they try to avoid the burden of extra customs duties.

Despite quota restrictions, imports of rebar from Egypt and Algeria continued in January, with amounts exceeding 60,000 tons scheduled to arrive on April 1 for customs declaration and clearance. This strategy aims to take advantage of the second quarter quota allocation, but importers are being cautious about placing new orders.

According to the information provided by the Ministry of Trade's International Agreements and European Union General Directorate;

Information was given regarding the European Union's (EU) Import Control System-2 (ICS2) electronic customs system, which is being rolled out gradually in relation to the transport sectors, and webinars organized for the purpose of informing economic operators in coordination with the Ministries.

This time, in a letter received from the European Union Delegation to Turkey, it is stated that as of April 1, 2025, the third version of the system will be launched for road and rail transport, and it will be mandatory to submit the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) to EU customs for all goods imported by road and rail transport to the EU or transit to third countries before the arrival of the goods.

The letter continues by stating that economic operators who fail to meet the system requirements by this date must contact the National Service Desk in the relevant EU member country where they are registered and have obtained the Economic Operator Registration and Identification Number (EORI) to request a deployment window by March 1, 2025, at the latest. The deployment window will only be defined upon request, and technical information regarding the system can be accessed at https://lnkd.in/gjxubyfY (under the "resources" tab).

In this context, it has been shared that a new webinar will be held on February 5, 2025, as part of the regular webinars organized by the Commission regarding the system, and access to the webinar information can be found at https://lnkd.in/gvrwS3bv. The webinar will be conducted in English.

The new customs practice, which is said to affect especially small-volume engines, imported from the Far East to Turkey, has raised questions in the motorcycle market.

The letter from the General Directorate of Customs regarding the "Completion of the NCTS Phase 5 Transition Process."

With the decisions made by the temporary government in Syria, the increase in customs duties has severely disrupted Turkey's exports to this country. Following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime, the rise in taxes applied to imports from Turkey to Syria sharply increased as the opposition forces took control of the border gates.

Significant changes have been made to the Customs Regulation with the Regulation Amending the Customs Regulation.

Changes in the general and specific conditions required for approved economic operator status;

The criteria for foreign trade performance required in applications for approved economic operator status have been reorganized;

New clauses regarding procedures for countries that are not WTO members have been added to Article 38 titled "Circumstances Where a Certificate of Origin is Required";

In inspections conducted before customs procedures are completed, if declarations do not have a Certificate of Origin attached, it will be determined that the goods are subject to customs duties due to changes in the customs tariff statistical position resulting from high taxes imposed on countries that are not WTO members specified in the annex lists of the Import Regime Decision, origin-based trade policy measures, additional customs duties, or other financial obligations such as additional fiscal liabilities, and action will be taken as specified in the second paragraph (taxes will be secured in cash).

In inspections conducted after customs procedures are completed, if declarations do not have a Certificate of Origin attached, it will be determined that the goods are subject to customs duties due to changes in the customs tariff statistical position resulting from high taxes imposed on countries that are not WTO members specified in the annex lists of the Import Regime Decision, origin-based trade policy measures, additional customs duties, or other financial obligations such as additional fiscal liabilities, and a period of six months will be given from the date of determination for the obligated party to present an appropriate Certificate of Origin to the customs administration.

Changes to Article 51 titled Elements to Be Added to the Price Actually Paid or Payable;

In determining the customs value of non-commercial shipments, all postal and cargo fees incurred until the delivery point of the goods will be included in the customs value.

Laboratory analysis fees

- Will be determined annually by the Ministry (General Directorate of Customs) not to exceed the revaluation rate specified in the Tax Procedure Law No. 213.

Goods that can be placed in a customs warehouse

- A permission document obtained from the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency will be required for products and active substances subject to the permission of the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency to be placed in customs warehouses.

Changes in temporary storage and customs warehouse regulations;

Changes regarding authorized customs consultants;

- The age limit for authorized customs consultants has been changed to seventy-five.

Penalties applicable to authorized customs consultants and provisions regarding the revocation of their certificates have been reorganized.

You can review the mini guide prepared by our Ministry of Trade, "Country Customs Practices (USA)", to obtain a summary of the customs duties and foreign trade transactions currently in effect in the USA within the scope of cross-border e-commerce.

China's exports increased at the end of the year, recording a record trade surplus amid expectations that Donald Trump would raise customs tariffs when he took office.

The General Administration of Customs of China announced the foreign trade data for December 2024 and the entire year of 2024.

According to this, in 2024, exports increased by 5.9% year-on-year to $3.58 trillion, while imports increased by 1.1% to $2.59 trillion. The trade surplus reached $992.1 billion by the end of the year, the highest level recorded in all years.

In December, exports rose by 10.7%, surpassing the 6.7% increase in November, while imports, which decreased by 3.9% in November, increased by 1% in December.

Pre-shipments to the U.S. were influential in the increase.

Analysts noted that the rise in exports was largely due to Chinese exporters making significant pre-shipments at the end of the year, anticipating higher customs tariffs when Trump took office.

China's exports to the U.S. increased by 15.5% in December and registered a 4.9% increase over the entire year.

In 2024, China’s exports to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries rose by 18.9%, to European Union (EU) countries by 12%, and to Russia by 4.1%. 

As the world's largest exporter, China's overseas sales increased by 7.1% in the first two months of 2024 but decreased by 7.5% in March and then continued to fluctuate with increases of 1.5% in April, 7.6% in May, 8.6% in June, and 7% in July, followed by 8.7%, 2.4%, 12.7%, and 6.7% increases in August, September, October, and November respectively.

Trump's tariff pla

Wang Lingchun, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Customs, stated at a press conference where the 2024 data was announced, "China has solidified its position as the world's largest goods exporter."

Exports became a significant engine of growth in 2024, a year when China faced economic difficulties. The increase in demand for new energy equipment produced in China, such as electric vehicles, batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines, created growth momentum during a period of weak domestic demand.

However, the imposition of customs tariffs on imported electric vehicles from China by the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Turkey, and most recently EU countries, driven by concerns to protect local industries, could negatively impact the exports of these products in the new term. Additionally, the statement by Trump that he could raise customs tariffs on products exported from China by up to 60% is seen as a source of uncertainty.

Imports increased after two months.

China's imports rose in December following a sharp decline over the previous two months. Weak domestic demand and consumer confidence had led to long-term stagnation in imports.

In the first two months of 2024, imports showed a year-on-year increase of 3.5%, but then declined by 1.9% in March, increased by 8.4% in April, and by 1.8% in May. After a decrease of 2.3% in June, imports rose by 7.2% in July, remained stagnant with increases of 0.5% in August and 0.3% in September, and showed sharp declines of 2.3% in October and 3.9% in November.

The National Revenue Board of Bangladesh partially launched the National Single Window system on January 2, 2025, to facilitate import and export processes. This project aims to consolidate 19 institutions that grant trade permits under a single platform. In this soft launch, 7 institutions are included under the NSW system, and the remaining 12 are expected to be integrated later, marking the full launch.

The NSW system has two main components: the Bangladesh National Single Window (BNSW) software and the Advanced Risk Management System (ARMS). This online platform allows traders to electronically obtain certificates, licenses, and permits from institutions and is designed to automate procedures, reduce paperwork, save time, and lower costs for businesses engaged in international trade. The BNSW project is expected to significantly improve trade facilitation, increase efficiency, and help prevent tax evasion.

The South Post-Clearance Audit Directorate, operating under the Federal Revenue Board, has uncovered a major money laundering scheme worth 106 billion Rupees under the guise of solar panel imports. 

According to Express News, the operation involved seven fake companies, and the FBR has now filed lawsuits against these companies.

The 2025 Istanbul Airport Customs Directorate's working hours and travel allowance fee list has been published.

The head of Iran's Customs reported that from the beginning of this year until December, the foreign trade volume between Iran and the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union has reached 2 billion 704 million dollars.

Fereydun Askeri shared details about Iran's exports and imports with Eurasian countries in a statement to IRNA, saying, "The value of Iran's exports to Eurasian countries amounted to approximately 1 billion 494 million 839 thousand dollars. This figure shows an increase of 20.79% compared to the same period last year."

Askeri continued, "The weight of the exports carried out during this period is estimated at 3 billion 857 million kg. This means an increase of 21.69% in terms of weight compared to the same period last year." The head of Iran's Customs also added that the countries to which Iran exports the most are, in order, the Russian Federation, Armenia, and Kazakhstan.

The import tax on encapsulant solar film is in effect, and supervision continues.

The requests of encapsulant solar film manufacturers in Turkey for the extension of the supervision application on imported products and the implementation of additional customs duties have been accepted.

In line with Turkey's efforts to increase the domestic production rate in solar panels, a new step has been taken to encourage panel manufacturers to use local inputs.

The requests made by companies producing encapsulant solar film, which account for 6-9% of the cost of solar panels, to the Ministry of Trade for the application of customs and additional customs duties on imported products, as well as the continuation of the supervision application for imports, have been accepted.

As a result, the previously suspended application of a 6.5% customs duty and an additional 10% customs duty on encapsulant solar film imports came into effect as of January 1, 2025. With the acceptance of the domestic producers' application, the supervision tax of $3,000 per ton applied to encapsulant solar film imports continues to remain in effect.

A new port may be opened in the TRNC.

The Gemikonağı port is known as one of the deep-water ports of the TRNC. The reopening of this inactive port is being planned.

Import Notifications (Year 2025)

–– Notification Regarding International Fairs Held Domestically (Import: 2025/1)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Military Weapons and Their Components and Parts (Import: 2025/2)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Radioactive Materials and Devices That Use Them (Import: 2025/3)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of High-Density Sweeteners (Import: 2025/4)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Items Containing Maps and Cartographic Information (Import: 2025/5)  

–– Notification Regarding the Generalized Preference System (Import: 2025/6)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Some Electric and Externally Rechargeable Hybrid Vehicles (Import: 2025/7)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Civil Aircraft (Import: 2025/8)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Used or Refurbished Goods (Import: 2025/9)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Special Paper for Banknotes and Similar Valuable Securities (Import: 2025/10)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Some Explosive Materials, Firearms, Knives, and Similar Instruments (Import: 2025/11)  

–– Notification Regarding Approval of Documents Related to Dual-Use Materials and Technologies (Import: 2025/12)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Certain Substances Affecting Occupational Health and Safety (Import: 2025/13)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Mushafs (Import: 2025/14)  

–– Notification Regarding Permits to be Obtained for Imports by Public Institutions and Organizations (Import: 2025/15)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Fertilizers (Import: 2025/16)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Chemical Substances Listed in the Annex of the Chemical Weapons Convention (Import: 2025/17)  

–– Notification Regarding the Suspension System (Import: 2025/18)  

–– Authorization Notification for Electronic Application in Import Transactions (Import: 2025/19)  

–– Notification Regarding the Import of Goods with Electronic Identity Information (Import: 2025/20)  

–– Notification Regarding the Revocation of the Notification on the Import of Substances Depleting the Ozone Layer and Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (Import: 2024/14)

Tariff quotas have been established for the duty-free import of certain products. Quotas for the duty-free import of certain industrial products have been identified.

Presidential decisions on the matter were published in the third extra issue of the Official Gazette.

Accordingly, tariff quotas with zero customs duty will be opened for the import of numerous industrial products, such as certain chemicals, electrical transformers, accumulators, ion batteries, printed circuit boards, and sound mechanisms, to be valid until February 15, 2026, and applied in the quantities specified in the decision.

In another decision, a tariff quota was determined for the duty-free import of woven products to be applied until December 31, 2025.

In this context, a tariff quota of 10 million square meters will be applied only for imports carried out by industrialists using impermeable fabrics as inputs.

Import licenses will be issued by the General Directorate of Imports of the Ministry of Trade for imports to be made under these decisions.

The Ministry of Trade's communiqués regulating the procedures and principles for the implementation of these decisions were also published in the Official Gazette regarding the Management of Quotas and Tariff Quotas in Imports.

The aforementioned decisions and communiqués will enter into force tomorrow.

Our Customs Protection teams continued their uninterrupted fight against smuggling in 2024, primarily focusing on drug trafficking and various items such as fuel, tobacco, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, food, medical supplies, textiles, electrical-electronic goods, and vehicles, which create unfair competition by harming the national economy.

The general communiqué of the Stamp Tax Law (Series No: 70) announcing the rates and amounts of Stamp Tax to be applied in 2025 has been published.

Amount for the customs declaration: 898.20 TL  

For summary declaration forms given to customs authorities: 100.40 TL  

Certificates of Origin and Source (per invoice declaration): 230.70 TL  

Bills of Lading: 136.10 TL

This year, Turkey became the country from which Kosovo imported the most.

In 2024, Kosovo conducted approximately 6.3 billion euros in imports, with Turkey ranking first among the countries from which it imported the most.

Agron Llugaliu, the Director of Kosovo Customs, stated during a press conference evaluating the year-end that his country imported the most from Turkey. He noted that Kosovo's imports this year totaled about 6.3 billion euros, of which 909 million euros were from Turkey, while Germany ranked second and China third.

Llugaliu mentioned that under the free trade agreement that came into effect in 2019 between Kosovo and Turkey, goods worth about 54 million euros were exempt from customs duties this year.

He reported that they collected approximately 1.8 billion euros in customs duties for the national budget this year and confiscated goods valued at 19.3 million euros. Kosovo's Minister of Finance, Labor, and Transfers, Hekuran Murati, emphasized that about 90% of the country’s budget consists of revenues from customs and the tax administration.

Turkey was also the country from which Kosovo imported the most in 2022 and 2023.

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat announced that the seizure value at customs has increased by 139% compared to last year, reaching 55 billion 178 million lira this year.

Bolat participated in the "2024 Smuggling Data Evaluation Meeting" at the Command Control Center of the General Directorate of Customs Enforcement.

In his speech here, Minister Bolat stated that they have ensured that customs procedures for exports and imports are carried out more quickly and effectively with the work they have done as a ministry.

Emphasizing that they continue to work to protect national interests by controlling the movement of goods, vehicles, and passengers in customs zones, Bolat said, "Last year, the number of seizure incidents was 5,775. In 2024, this number increased by 26% to 7,300. Annual seizures were at a record level of 23 billion lira last year. In 2024, it reached 55 billion 178 million lira with a 139% increase."

Regarding the implementation of the Inward Processing Regime in Agricultural Products,

In a letter from te General Directorate of Exports of the Ministry of Commerce, it has been reported that, as is known, a decision has been made by the Ministry of Commerce concerning the sale of bread wheat at world market prices by the Turkish Grain Board (TMO) to firms exporting processed products using bread wheat between October 15 and December 31, 2024, as well as ensuring that a minimum of 85% of the amount of bread wheat that these firms are entitled to for their exports must be obtained from TMO stocks, and that the remaining portion can be met through imports. Furthermore, it has been stipulated that imports of durum wheat classified under 1001.19 GTP will not be permitted until December 31, 2024.

This time, following assessments made considering the views and requests of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; it has been decided that no import of durum wheat classified under 1001.19 GTP will be permitted until May 31, 2025, and for the Inward Processing Permits (DİİB) that foresee the importation of bread wheat classified under 1001.99 GTP, until May 31, 2025 (inclusive);

1) The remaining part can be met through imports after at least 75% of the quantity of bread wheat classified under 1001.99 GTP that firms are entitled to, corresponding to their previous exports, is obtained from TMO.

2) Imports of bread wheat classified under 1001.99 GTP cannot be carried out without completing the export commitment under DİİB and without having obtained at least 75% of the amount of bread wheat classified under 1001.99 GTP corresponding to the exported products from TMO.

3) The provisions of the first and second articles apply to documents issued before December 20, 2024, for which domestic purchases have not been fully completed, which has been deemed appropriate by the approval of the Ministry on December 20, 2024.

The "Customs Sector Intermediate Staff Training" organized in cooperation with the Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MTSO) Education and Development Foundation and the 18th Customs Consultant Services Professional Committee has begun. MTSO President Hakan Sefa Çakır stated that there is a need for personnel in every field, and there is a greater need for good personnel.

Putin signed a law increasing state control over the circulation of precious metals and stones.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that increases state control over the circulation of precious metals and precious stones in the country. The law has been published on the official legislative portal.

According to the law, the Russian government will decide on the conduct of transactions involving precious metals and stones, provided that their compliance with standards is verified. The Ministry of Finance will determine the method of verifying these characteristics.

The Federal Chamber of Measurements (FPP), accredited legal entities, and individual entrepreneurs will verify the properties of precious metals. The classification characteristics of precious stones will be determined by the FPP, Gokhran, and forensic institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Justice.

A state fee as stipulated in the tax law will be charged for the FPP’s verification of precious metal and stone properties. For verifications carried out by legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, the fee will be determined by mutual agreement between the parties. For verifications by institutions affiliated with Gokhran and the Ministry of Justice, the fee will be set by the government.

The law will come into effect on March 1, 2026. Precious metals and stones with specified characteristics can be put into circulation without the need for a verification procedure before this date. However, information documenting these products and their characteristics must be recorded in the state’s integrated information system.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that he believes the Zangezur Corridor, which aims to connect Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and subsequently Turkey through transportation routes, will be fully realized in four years.

Uraloğlu also stated that he expects construction of the 224-kilometer road in Turkey related to the corridor to begin in the spring.

Regulation on Amending the Regulation on Determining the Preferential Origin of Goods in Trade within the Framework of the Turkey-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement states that, for export transactions between 1/4/2020 and 1/4/2023, a Malaysian Certificate of Origin may be issued retroactively for one year starting from 31/10/2024 by the Malaysian authorities.

Truck transportation activities in the U.S. shrank in November; this was the second decline since July.

According to the Amrican Trucking Associations' (ATA) seasonally adjusted Truckload Ton Index, the index fell from 114.6 in October to 112.5 in November. The index, which has 2015 set as the base year at 100, decreased by 1% compared to the same month last year.

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said, "The frustratingly volatile freight environment continued in November. Since hitting its lowest point in January, tonnage has increased by a total of 1.1%; however, after a month filled with nice gains, it fell again the following month. The good news is that the overall trend this year is on the rise, albeit at a slow rate."

Based on the raw changes in tonnage transported, which is not seasonally adjusted, the index was at 109.6 in November, reflecting a 9.6% decline compared to October. The seasonally adjusted decline followed a 1.2% increase in October.

The Truck Ton Index is seen as a barometer of the U.S. economy and represents 72.6% of the tonnage carried by all local freight transportation modes, including manufactured and retail goods.

Additional Customs Duty on Liquid Soap

The Iraqi Cabinet announced in its meeting on December 24, 2024, that it has decided to implement an additional customs duty of 50% on "liquid soap" products for a duration of 4 years, upon the request of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals. It was stated that the additional customs duty would come into effect 120 days later.

As the rationale for the additional customs duty, similar to previous decisions, the objective of "supporting domestic production" has been put forward.

Baghdad Trade Attaché

At the 2nd Session of the Turkey-Palestine Economic Cooperation Council held in Istanbul, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat stated, "The decision to include around 41 agricultural products that Palestine exports to the world under the free trade agreement and to increase the existing date export quota from Palestine to Turkey from 5,000 tons to 7,000 tons without customs duty is of great importance. Nearly all of the agricultural products exported from Palestine to our country will have preferential entry opportunities. We hope that these decisions will be beneficial in supporting the Palestinian people and economy."

The letter from the Istanbul Customs and Foreign Trade Regional Directorate titled "Security Measures Taken at Erenköy Customs Area";