Import & export trade consulting

Two practical reasons, and one important limit. (1) EU Customs Union: industrial goods in free circulation in Turkey move to the EU duty-free with an A.TR certificate (basic agricultural products, coal and steel fall outside the Customs Union). Chinese goods first pay Turkish duty, often plus additional customs duty (İGV), when they are released into free circulation in Turkey; goods shipped directly from China to the EU pay the EU's MFN duty, a 5.1 percent simple average in 2025, with many lines at 0 percent and most industrial goods at 0 to 12 percent. (2) Logistics: road and intermodal services from Turkey reach most EU markets in about 5 to 10 days. The limit: EU anti-dumping duties follow the goods' non-preferential origin. Minor processing in Turkey does not change origin, and the EU has extended China anti-dumping duties to goods consigned from Turkey (for example glass-fibre fabrics, Regulation (EU) 2022/1477). Any origin or trade-remedy question is for a licensed customs broker or independent lawyer to assess; we coordinate that work and explain it in Mandarin.

Core documents: (1) commercial invoice; (2) packing list; (3) proof of origin: for Chinese-made goods, a non-preferential certificate of origin (from CCPIT or China Customs) where Turkish customs requires one, for example for goods subject to additional duty, anti-dumping or surveillance (Turkey gives China no GSP preference, China Customs has not issued Form A for Turkey since 1 December 2021, and EUR.1 is not used for Chinese goods); (4) bill of lading or air waybill; (5) import declaration (Gümrük Beyannamesi); (6) the bank's import-payment record (a döviz satım belgesi, DSB, or a transfer record) matched to the declaration; (7) conformity documents where required (CE marking; TAREKS product-safety inspection, and from 2026 a TAREKS application is needed for every HS code in the product-safety annexes). Controlled goods need additional permits. We coordinate full clearance through Turkish customs brokers.

Turkey applies its Common Customs Tariff for non-EU origin (which includes China). Typical base rates (2026): machinery about 0 to 5 percent, textiles 4 to 12 percent, electronics 0 to 14 percent, apparel 12 percent, consumer goods varied. Chinese-origin goods often also pay additional customs duty (İGV) and, for some products, anti-dumping duty, so check the full rate per HS code. KDV (VAT) of 1, 10, or 20 percent is then charged on the customs value plus duty and other import charges. Vehicles, mobile phones, tobacco, alcohol and some other goods also pay ÖTV (special consumption tax) at import. We pre-check the HS code and tariff for any target shipment before you commit to the deal.

Free Zones (Serbest Bölge) are designated areas where companies can import raw materials, process or manufacture, and re-export with zero customs duties; manufacturers' export income can also be exempt from corporate tax. Best for: (a) Chinese exporters processing goods in Turkey for re-export to the EU or MENA; (b) inventory holding for European customers without paying full Turkish duty until sale; (c) manufacturing for export: the 0 percent corporate tax applies only to manufacturers, on income from goods they make in the zone and sell abroad (and, from 2026, sell within free zones). Since 1 January 2025, sales into Turkey and trading or other income are taxed at the standard rate. Major zones: Istanbul (Trakya), Izmir (Ege). We compare zone vs onshore options for your specific case.

The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey and the People's Bank of China renewed their currency-swap agreement on 13 June 2025 (CNY 35 billion / TRY 189 billion, for three years) and signed a memorandum of understanding on RMB clearing. Options: (a) RMB payment directly into a Turkish bank's RMB account, where your bank offers one; (b) USD or EUR settlement followed by FX conversion; (c) Hong Kong or Singapore intermediate accounts. We help you set up the right banking arrangement and DAB documentation so payments route correctly through the bank's RMB channel.

A DAB (döviz alım belgesi) is the record a bank issues when it buys foreign currency from you, for example when export proceeds are converted into lira. Import payments are documented with a döviz satım belgesi (DSB) or a transfer record, matched to the customs declaration. We plan the DAB/DSB paperwork for every transaction in advance so it matches the customs declaration and invoices.