Türkiye’s Exporters Assembly president discusses efforts to remove US tariffs

The new tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump are making waves in global markets, with the U.S. targeting multiple countries, including Türkiye.

These tariffs have raised concerns among international trade experts, especially in countries where the U.S. is a primary market.

Mustafa Gultepe, head of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TIM), shared his insights on the matter during an interview with media outlet CNBC-e.

Türkiye’s position in global trade

Gultepe emphasized that Türkiye remains one of the countries with the lowest customs tariffs in the world.

He pointed out that the recent global economic shifts mark a new chapter in international trade, with the U.S. focusing on increasing tariffs on nations with higher trade deficits.

Gultepe remarked, “We are among the countries that fall under the lower tariff brackets. Each country will reassess tariffs based on its own capacity, and new strategies and policies will emerge to protect competitiveness in different markets.”

Concerns about economic impact on key markets

Gultepe also noted that the new tariffs have sparked concerns in countries that rely heavily on the U.S. as a primary market. “Countries that have made the U.S. their first trade partner are worried about the implications of these tariffs,” he stated.

He further explained that the U.S. has imposed tariffs on many countries, particularly in the Far East. “This could lead to inflationary pressure on the U.S. economy in the coming period,” Gultepe warned, suggesting that rising inflation might be one of the potential outcomes of these economic changes.

Potential for collaborative efforts to remove tariffs

Despite the ongoing concerns, Gultepe remains optimistic about Türkiye’s trade relationship with the U.S.

He highlighted that Türkiye maintains a balanced trade relationship with the U.S., with exports reaching approximately $15 billion to $16 billion and imports standing at $12 billion to $13 billion.

“We have a trade volume close to $30 billion,” he added. Reflecting on earlier discussions about the potential for a $100 billion trade target, Gultepe mentioned that it could still be achievable in the future.

He proposed that Türkiye could work on removing the imposed tariffs through discussions with relevant government officials.

“In the upcoming meetings in May, we could bring up the issue of tariffs and make a case for their removal,” Gultepe suggested. He also noted that if Türkiye’s competitiveness improves, the country could potentially achieve its export target of $375 billion by 2028.