Türkiye and EU approve steps to ease trade and customs
The sides approved mutual recognition of trusted-trader status and confirmed Türkiye's compliance with the EU's New Machinery Regulation.
Key takeaways
- Türkiye-EU trade reached a record $233 billion in 2025, according to Türkiye's Trade Ministry.
- The sides approved mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operator status.
- The ministry said Türkiye's compliance with the EU's New Machinery Regulation was confirmed.
Türkiye and the European Union approved steps to facilitate trade and customs procedures at a meeting in Brussels on Oct. 13. The talks followed a record $233 billion in trade between the two sides in 2025, according to Türkiye's Trade Ministry.
The third Türkiye-EU High-Level Trade Dialogue was co-chaired by Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and European Commission Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. Participants approved mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operator status, which is expected to speed up border and customs crossings for Turkish exporters.
The ministry said inspections under Türkiye's risk-based TAREKS trade control system had been removed as an area of concern in trade with the EU. It also said the system's transparency, predictability and accessibility were affirmed.
The sides confirmed Türkiye's full compliance with the EU's New Machinery Regulation. The ministry said this would allow Türkiye-based notified bodies to continue operating and safeguard manufacturers' certification processes.
The meeting also addressed cooperation on the circular economy, the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and mutual recognition of electronic signatures. Türkiye's request to be included as an equivalent partner in planned steps under the EU's Industrial Accelerator Act, or Made in EU, was conveyed to EU officials, the ministry said.
This article was produced with the help of AI technology. Based on reporting by the outlets listed above.
