Türkiye Pushes for EU Customs Union Modernization

Türkiye Calls for Modernization of Customs Union With the European Union

Türkiye is seeking to modernize its long-standing Customs Union agreement with the European Union as global protectionist policies continue to reshape international trade, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said.

According to the minister, growing protectionism poses challenges for trade, investment, and the automotive industry, making an updated agreement increasingly important.

High-Level Meetings in Brussels

During a two-day visit to Brussels, Bolat led a delegation of representatives from the Ministry of Trade and the private sector.

The delegation held meetings with European commissioners, members of the European Parliament, representatives of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), major European market participants, and leading business organizations.

Trade Between Türkiye and the European Union

Bolat emphasized the importance of economic relations between the two sides, noting that the European Union remains Türkiye's largest export market, while Türkiye is the EU's fifth-largest trading partner.

According to the minister, bilateral trade reached $233 billion in 2025, with approximately $62 billion generated by the automotive sector alone.

The Customs Union between Türkiye and the European Union has been in force for nearly three decades and has significantly expanded economic cooperation.

Need for Updated Agreement

Bolat said both the willingness and the necessity to begin negotiations on modernizing the agreement have become increasingly clear.

He pointed to rising imports from East Asia, changes in United States trade policy, and new European Union industrial initiatives, including the Industrial Acceleration Act and the Made in EU program, as factors reshaping global competition.

Despite broad economic interest in updating the agreement, negotiations have not yet begun because several European Union member states continue to oppose the process.