The following article gives a summary of decrees by the Council of Ministers and communiqués by the Ministry of Economy regarding prevention of unfair competition in imports, made between 1 March 2016 and 31 March 2016.
Investigation Launched Into Transmission Apparatus Incorporating Reception Apparatus (Cellular) Portable Completed Without Imposing Safeguard Measures
A safeguard measure investigation was initiated under the Communiqué on Unfair Competition Prevention in Imports number 2014/10, published in Official Gazette number 29196 on 5 December 2014 in relation to “transmission apparatus incorporating reception apparatus (cellular) portable” classified under tariff code 8517.12.00.00.11. The investigation was initiated on the grounds that the quantity of imports has increased significantly and importation of such goods is damaging domestic production. The local manufacturer subsequently withdrew the application and the investigation was completed without imposing safeguard measures.
The investigation result was announced under Communiqué on Safeguard Measures in Imports number 2016/1, published in Official Gazette number 29459 29643 on 4 March 2016. Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish).
Surveillance Application Launched Into Glue-Laminated Timber
The Communiqué on Surveillance Application in Imports number 2016/1 (“Communiqué”) determines procedures and principles related to surveillance applications launched into glue-laminated timber imports with the tariff codes below and which are worth less than the noted Unit Customs Value. The Communiqué was published in Official Gazette number 29657 on 18 March 2016 and will enter into effect on the 30th day after publication.
Qualifying goods can only be imported with a surveillance document issued by the Ministry of Economy (“Ministry”).
To obtain the surveillance document, forms attached to the Communiqué must be completed and sent to the Ministry with the following documents:
- Signatory circular.
- Power of attorney, if the declarer and importer are different.
- Proforma invoice or commercial invoice.
Surveillance documents are valid for six months and must be returned to the Ministry within ten business days on expiry. They cannot be transferred.
Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué and its annexes (only available in Turkish).
Application and Distribution Procedures and Principles for Tariff Quotas in Relation to Certain Chemicals and Electronic Appliances
A tariff quota has been imposed on certain chemicals and electronic appliances from 1 January 2016 by Council of Ministers’ Decree number 2016/8435.
The Communiqué on Tariff Quotas in Imports of Certain Chemicals and Electronic Appliance (“Communiqué”) determines procedures and principals for applying, using and distributing tariff quotas related to certain chemicals and electronic appliances. The Communiqué was published in Official Gazette number 29658 on 19 March 2016, entering into effect on the same date.
Tariff quotas determined by the Communiqué are:
Tariff quotas will distributed by a demand collection method, only to industrialists using the respective goods in their production as raw materials or intermediate goods.
To apply to receive the tariff quota, an Import License Application Form must be completed and sent to the Ministry of Economy (“Ministry”) within 10 days from the publication of the Communiqué with the following documents:
- Signatory circular.
- Trade registry gazette.
- Capacity report.
- Proforma invoice or commercial invoice.
- Customs declaration spreadsheet certified by certified public accountant for 2013, 2014 and 2015.
- Activity form obtained from chamber of certified public accountants.
Applications will be completely met if tariff quota requests are equal or less than the tariff quota determined by the Communiqué. However, other criteria will be considered if tariff quotas requests exceed the Communiqué’s tariff quota. For example, total requested amount, actual expenditure, production amount, production capacity, consumption amount, total import amount and use performance of tariff quotas already allocated to the requesting party.
Import licenses issued by the Ministry within the scope of tariff quotas will be valid until 31 December 2016 and must be returned to the Ministry on expiry. Licenses cannot be transferred.
Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué and its annexes (only available in Turkish).
Anti-Dumping Duty Imposed On Stainless Steel Pipes Imported From Vietnam and Malesia
A definitive anti-dumping measure had been imposed on “stainless steel pipes” imported from People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, classified under the tariff code 7306.40.20.90.00, 7306.40.80.90.00 and 7306.61.10.00.00 with the Communiqué on Unfair Competition Prevention in Imports number 20153/4. The measure had been published in Official Gazette number 28588 on 15 March 2013.
Vena Paslanmaz Çelik Boru ve Profil San. Tic. A.Ş. applied to the Ministry of Economy, claiming the current measure was being undermined by imports of such goods from Vietnam and Malesia.
The Import General Directorate decided to impose a definitive measure on “stainless steel pipes” imported from Malesia and Vietnam, classified under the tariff code 7306.40.20.90.00, 7306.40.80.90.00 and 7306.61.10.00.00. The measure entered into effect on the Communiqué on Unfair Competition Prevention in Imports number 2015/6 being published in Official Gazette number 29657 on 18 March 2016.
An anti-dumping duty is imposed on imports from Malesia and Vietnam as follows, excluding firms which collaborated during the investigation:
Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish).
