Turkey has scrapped a long-standing customs exemption for low-value goods bought from overseas through postal services and express couriers, tightening oversight of cross-border e-commerce to regulate imports and safeguard domestic markets.
A presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday declared that Ankara has eliminated the €30 duty-free limit—about $35—previously applied to non-commercial goods purchased from abroad. The new rules will come into effect within 30 days.
According to the decree, customs exemptions will now apply solely to medicines and dietary supplements valued at no more than €1,500. All other consumer goods purchased online from abroad will face customs duties regardless of price.
The move represents a major change for Turkish shoppers, who have increasingly turned to international e‑commerce platforms for affordable electronics, clothing, and household items amid prolonged inflation and currency volatility.
The regulation is expected to impact small purchases from international shopping sites. The change came after a surge in imports fueled by growing demand for affordable items from platforms such as China’s Shein and Temu.
Non-commercial goods shipped to Türkiye are now taxed at 30% for products originating from the EU and 60% for others, with some items also subject to an additional 20% tax.
Officials suggest that restricting duty-free imports could help ease pressure on the current account deficit and protect domestic producers from competition with cheaper foreign goods.
While eliminating the duty-free threshold is likely to raise costs for consumers, authorities are relying on stronger exports, easing inflation, and tighter import controls to stabilize the economy in the coming months.
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