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Turkish Deputy Trade Minister Mustafa Tuzcu said Türkiye is on the U.S. "white list" for tariffs and poses no commercial risk to America, as business leaders outlined strategies to reach a $100 billion bilateral trade target during a major economic seminar Wednesday.
Speaking at the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEIK) event titled "Towards the $100 Billion Trade Volume Target: A New Era in Turkish-American Economic Relations," Tuzcu said Türkiye aims to capture 1.5% of the $3.2 trillion U.S. import market.
"America has entered a different period, we are on the white list here," Tuzcu said.
"We are one of the countries with the lowest tariffs applied, we have a balanced trade volume, we have serious investments in America just as America has in Türkiye. America has stated with these figures that we do not pose any commercial risk to America," he noted.
Tuzcu emphasized that Ankara's negotiating power within America is significantly influenced by Turkish investments in the U.S. market. "One of the most general factors affecting our negotiating power within America is our investments in America, we are a good investor player in America," he added.
Türkiye's exports to the U.S. currently range between $16-17 billion, which Tuzcu acknowledged as "low" despite significant progress over the past decade. He noted the figure drops further when petroleum and energy products are excluded from calculations.
"The number of products we include in this basket needs to increase," Tuzcu said, outlining ministry efforts to identify products where Türkiye can compete effectively as other countries lose U.S. market share due to tariff policies.
The deputy minister said all planning is based on contingencies, as "time will tell how America's taxes and partnerships will change, and we need to make different plans according to different scenarios to increase our exports."
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DEIK Chairman Nail Olpak highlighted the exclusivity of the $100 billion trade target, noting that only about 10 countries conduct business with the U.S. at that level.
"When you look at these countries, the $100 billion target is not just symbolic but has a special meaning," Olpak said, identifying defense industry, digital technologies, and energy as key discussion areas for expanded cooperation.
Olpak also addressed potential risks from U.S. tariff policies on Asian countries, warning that products unable to enter the American market might flood other export markets "with more aggressive policies."
Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAIK) Chairman Murat Ozyegin reported that current bilateral trade stands at $45 billion including services, demonstrating "strong potential" to reach the $100 billion goal initially agreed upon by Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump.
Recent survey results revealed that TAIK members alone have invested more than $12 billion in the United States, with many previously inactive companies now pursuing opportunities with various state governments.
"All these developments clearly show that Turkish-American economic relations will be carried to much deeper and different dimensions within the next decade," Ozyegin said.
Both Olpak and Ozyegin emphasized growing interest in Washington-Ankara cooperation in third countries, particularly in Central Asia, Africa, and Syria's reconstruction process.
"Unfortunately, this is an area that we discuss a lot not only in relations with America but also with many Western European countries, but for some reason we cannot make much progress when we come to the table," Olpak noted regarding third-country partnerships.
Ozyegin later stressed that the balanced nature of bilateral trade between Türkiye and the U.S. provides positive differentiation amid current global trade tensions.
"During this process, Turkish companies becoming more visible in the U.S. market through high-value-added investments contributes to the formation of a true strategic partnership between the two countries," he concluded.
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