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Türkiye is not expected to be negatively affected by the European Union’s plan to end customs duty exemptions on online purchases under €150, according to the country’s e-commerce sector.
EU member states are preparing to abolish the exemption in 2026 as part of a broader customs modernization effort targeting the surge of low-value parcels entering the bloc.
EU countries plan to remove the customs duty exemption applied to online purchases under €150 from platforms such as Temu, Shein and AliExpress.
Currently, products under this value shipped from non-EU countries, including China, the U.S., India and Türkiye, enter the EU without customs duties.
According to European Commission data, 4.6 billion low-value parcels entered the EU in 2024, and 90% were of Chinese origin, prompting concerns over product safety, unfair competition and pressure on customs procedures.
ETID Chairman Hakan Cevikoglu said the reform is aimed at addressing these concerns but noted that Türkiye’s footprint in this category is extremely small.
“Türkiye’s share is so low that it can be expressed in thousandths. Shipments from Türkiye do not negatively affect EU customs operations,” he said.
Cevikoglu said Türkiye understands the EU’s sensitivities related to product safety, consumer protection, environmental regulations and trade balance.
He emphasized that Türkiye already maintains strong alignment with EU rules across these areas.
“We have highly compatible legislation on product safety, production standards, consumer rights and environmental regulations. Türkiye stands apart from many other commercial partners,” he said.
He added that Türkiye’s export model, product structure and inspection capacity differ significantly from those of other countries affected by the reform.
The Customs Union framework, he noted, places Türkiye in a unique position within the EU market.
ETID and TOBB Türkiye E-Commerce Council shared these assessments directly with senior EU officials, arguing that Türkiye should not be placed in the same category as other third countries in the upcoming reform.
Cevikoglu said that rather than harming Türkiye, the reform could strengthen its competitive position.
“I do not expect Türkiye to be negatively affected; on the contrary, I believe this opens a strong opportunity window,” he said.
He highlighted that Türkiye’s quality production, robust customs regime and regulatory alignment could help its exporters stand out globally.
He added that keeping Türkiye outside the scope of the reform, consistent with the Customs Union regime, could further enhance the competitiveness of Turkish producers in the EU market.
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