Türkiye on Monday declared the removal of the retaliatory tariffs it had imposed in 2018 on various U.S. imports, signaling improved relations between the two nations just days ahead of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“The additional financial obligations imposed on imports of certain U.S.-origin products have been terminated,” the ministry stated.
Erdoğan is scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, before his meeting with Trump, who expects to finalize trade and defense agreements with Türkiye.
The retaliatory tariffs covered a range of products, including cars, fruit, rice, tobacco, alcoholic drinks, solid fuels, and chemical goods. Turkey imposed these extra duties in response to U.S. tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum, which were enacted following a diplomatic dispute over the detention of an American pastor.
In August, the United States imposed a 15% tariff on Turkish imports, but Turkey has not responded with any retaliatory measures. Turkey’s trade ministry stated that lifting the tariffs is part of a broader initiative to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion.
On Friday, Trump stated that his talks with Erdoğan would include a ‘large-scale’ Boeing aircraft purchase, a new F-16 agreement, and ongoing negotiations over the F-35 program, which he anticipates will reach a favorable outcome. Meanwhile, Erdoğan noted that the leaders will focus on trade, investment, and defense collaboration, expressing confidence that the discussions would bolster bilateral relations and help resolve regional conflicts.
Türkiye added that it remains committed to its existing target of reaching $100 billion in annual bilateral trade with the United States. Last year, trade between the two nations totaled approximately $30 billion. Türkiye also stated on Monday that it has introduced an additional customs duty of 25% to 30% on passenger car imports, excluding those originating from the European Union and countries with which Türkiye has established free trade agreements.
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