The following article gives a summary of communiqués by the Ministry of Trade regarding prevention of unfair competition in imports, made between 1 October 2018 and 31 October 2018.

Additional Liability Introduced for Polyethylene Terephthalate Imports Originating from the Republic of Korea

An investigation by the General Directorate of Import of the Ministry of Trade, determined that the absolute and relative increase in imported Polyethylene Terephthalate products originating from South Korea seriously harms local production. Accordingly, it has decided to apply additional financial liability as a protection procedure for two years: 6.5% for first year and 6% for the second year. The additional liabilities will apply to goods introduced as “others” under Tariff Code 3907.69.00.00.00.

The financial obligations were outlined in the Communiqué on Safeguard Measures in Imports number 2018/6, published in Official Gazette number 30564 on 13 October 2018, entering into effect on the same day.

Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish).

Anti-Dumping Measures Introduced for Certain Chinese Imports

With the amendments to Communiqué numbered 2015/9 on Prevention of Unfair Competition on Import published in Official Gazette number 30567 on 16 October 2018 the Ministry has decided to apply anti-dumping measures as follows.

Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish).

Decision on Investigation into Textile Imports Originating from Nepal and Bangladesh

An investigation by the General Directorate of Import of the Ministry of Trade has resulted in actions against imports of textiles woven from synthetic or artificial discontinuous fibres, defined under tariff codes 55. 08, 55. 09 (except 5509.52,5509.61; 5509.91), 55.10 (except 5510.20) and 55.11.

The decision states that considering the firms exporting the products which were subject to the investigation constitute almost all of Nepal’s export for these products, anti-dumping measures will not be extended to Nepal.

However, for products originating from and/or declared to be originating from Bangladesh, the existing definitive measure against dumping which is in force for the People’s Republic of China will be extended to now also apply to Bangladesh. However, the measure will not apply to products produced by Well Mart Ltd (Textile unit) that are certified.

The result of the investigation was announced in the Communiqué on Safeguard Measures in Imports number 2018/38, published in Official Gazette number 30567 on 16 October 2018, entering into effect on the same day.

Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish).

Investigation Request Withdrawn for Certain Products Originating from the Republic of Korea

An application seeking to have the General Directorate of Import of the Ministry of Trade investigate “Cement, mortar or concrete mixes for cement” under tariff code 3824.40.00.00.00 and polycarboxylates classified under “Others” with tariff code 3906.90.90.00.00 imported from the Republic of Korea has been withdrawn during the investigation period. Accordingly, the investigation has been closed without imposing any measures.

The Communiqué Safeguard Measures in Imports was published in Official Gazette number 30567 on 16 October 2018, entering into effect on the same day.

Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish).

Safeguard Measures Will Continue for Imports of Endless Transmission Belts from China, India and Vietnam

The General Directorate of Import of the Ministry of Trade has investigated and determined that dumping and damage would probably continue and re-occur if current measures were removed for imports of endless transmission belts from China, India and Vietnam.

Accordingly, the following safeguard measures will continue to apply:

The Communiqué on Measures on Unfair Competition in Imports number 2018/35, published in Official Gazette number 30567 on 16 October 2018, entering into effect on the same day.

Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish).

Procedures and Principles Announced for Tariff Quotas Which Apply to Iron-Steel Products
Procedures and principles have been announced for tariff quotas under the Presidential Decree on Implementation of the Temporary Protection Measures for Iron-Steel Product Imports (“Decree”).

Notable provisions in the Decree include:

  • Customs administrations will distribute the general tariff quota initiated under Article 3/1 of the Decree by using the allocation method according to the declaration order. Taxpayers must select the tax exemption code at the registration stage of the customs declaration.
  •  For imports within the scope of the Inward Processing Regime, if there is a general tariff quota available for the relevant goods, the Decree’s additional financial liability will not be collateralized and the amount of imports made within this scope will not be deducted from the amount of the general tariff quota.
  • Customs administrations will distribute tariff quotas for certain countries initiated under Article 4/1 of the Decree using the allocation method according to the declaration order. The taxpayer-related exemption code should be selected at the registration stage of the customs declaration.
  • Certain countries have a tariff quota of 518,803 tons. However, the tariff quota for certain countries and for each good originating from the country/customs region is maximum 172,934 tons.

The Communiqué on Use of Quotas and Tariff Quotas in Imports number 2018/7, was published in Official Gazette number 30567 on 16 October 2018, entering into effect on the same day.

Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish).

Safeguard Measures Will Continue for Polyester-Synthetic Discontinuous Fibers (polyester fiber) From China

The General Directorate of Import of the Ministry Trade has reached a decision in its final review of the investigation into polyester staple fiber (polyester fiber) products with tariff code 5503.20.00.00.00 from the People’s Republic of China.

Accordingly, anti-dumping measures will continue to apply as follows:

The Communiqué on Measures for Unfair Competition in Imports number 2018/36, was published in Official Gazette number 30571 on 20 October 2018, entering into effect on the same day.

Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish)