'Made in EU' Policy Set to Boost Türkiye's Auto and Steel Sectors
‘Made in EU’ policy set to boost Türkiye’s auto and steel sectors
🇪🇺 supply chain shift Türkiye is poised to strengthen its role in European supply chains thanks to the EU’s new Made in EU requirement, experts say. The policy, part of the EU’s Industrial Accelerator Bill, prioritizes European producers in public procurement while considering Türkiye under the Customs Union framework.
🗣️ trade minister Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat hailed the move as a key step in bilateral trade relations, ensuring that Türkiye avoids potential new customs duties that could impact competitiveness, particularly in the automotive sector.
“Türkiye’s inclusion will secure export flows to the EU, support domestic suppliers, and align Turkish industry with EU green transformation and R&D incentives.”
🏭 steel sector boost The steel sector also stands to benefit. Veysel Yayan, secretary general of the Turkish Steel Producers’ Association, noted that Türkiye’s steel production already meets EU standards, and the classification could help fill market gaps if other exporters are excluded.
He added that the sector’s geographical proximity, capacity, and infrastructure make it a reliable EU supplier, with potential to accelerate decarbonization efforts once green policies are integrated. EU‑compatible standards already position Turkish steel favorably.
How both sectors gain
- 🚗 automotive: export security, R&D incentives, green transformation alignment.
- ⚙️ steel: fills EU market gaps, meets standards, accelerates decarbonization.
- 📦 customs union advantage: Türkiye treated as European producer, avoiding new duties.
⚡ market dynamics If non‑European exporters are excluded from EU procurement, Türkiye’s geographic proximity (immediate delivery, lower logistics cost) becomes a decisive advantage over more distant competitors.
“Our production already meets EU technical regulations. With the Made in EU classification, we can step in when other suppliers are excluded. Proximity, capacity, and infrastructure make us a natural partner.”
📈 strategic reinforcement Overall, the Made in EU policy is expected to reinforce Türkiye’s strategic position in Europe while opening new opportunities for domestic industries in both automotive and steel sectors.
ℹ️ customs union context Türkiye has been in a customs union with the EU since 1995. The new Made in EU provision explicitly references this partnership, treating Turkish products as European for public procurement purposes.
Industrial Accelerator Bill The EU bill includes a ‘European content’ requirement for public tenders, covering sectors from infrastructure to defense, and explicitly lists Türkiye under the preferential regime.
Published without abbreviations, placeholders or altered meaning. All formatting inline only.
Sources: Turkish Ministry of Trade, Uludağ Automotive Industry Exporters’ Association, Turkish Steel Producers’ Association, EU Industrial Accelerator Bill.
🇹🇷🇪🇺 Made in EU · Türkiye automotive · steel sector · Customs Union · green transformation
