Additional customs duty will impact the e-commerce sector

With the Presidential decision published in the Official Gazette, additional customs duties have been imposed on products ordered from abroad. According to the new regulation, if the products come directly from European Union countries, a 30% duty will be applied, while products from other countries will face a 60% duty. Additionally, for items listed in Table (IV) attached to the Special Consumption Tax Law No. 4760 dated June 6, 2002, a further 20% single and fixed duty will be collected on top of the aforementioned rates. Asset Worldwide Express Executive Board Member İbrahim Taşkın evaluated the impact of this decision on the e-commerce sector, stating that the new customs duty regulations could be a significant turning point in e-imports.

Taşkın noted, “The upper limit for the value of goods to be imported with a single and fixed duty, previously set at 150 Euros, has been reduced to 30 Euros. For goods not exceeding 30 Euros, a single and fixed duty will be collected at the new rates by postal and express cargo companies, completing the process within the framework of the Simplified Customs Declaration (BGB). For goods exceeding 30 Euros but not exceeding 1,500 Euros, the import process can be carried out by postal and express cargo companies or customs brokers within the framework of normal import procedures. For goods exceeding 1,500 Euros, commercial import procedures will apply,” he said.

"Consumer rights and market competition balance should also be considered"

Taşkın also emphasized the importance of this step to protect domestic producers, saying, “Especially in the import of consumer goods, there will be impacts on the trade deficit and the government's tax revenue. However, increasing taxes may negatively affect e-commerce volume and inflation to some extent by increasing costs, particularly for small businesses and individual consumers. Applying additional customs duties on products coming from abroad can provide a competitive advantage to domestic producers. However, consumer rights and market competition balance should also be considered when taking such measures. Additional taxes on critical items like medicines and healthcare products could make it harder for consumers to access these products. Rising costs in the healthcare sector could lead to disruptions in healthcare services in the long term,” he said.

"Exports and tourism are the only areas where we can meet our foreign exchange needs as a country"

Speaking about the future of e-commerce, Taşkın said, “Cross-border e-commerce needs to be evaluated under three main headings: e-export, e-import, and e-transit. As a country, exports and tourism are the only areas where we can meet our foreign exchange needs. In this context, the share of e-exports in total exports and our global e-commerce volume is extremely important. On the e-import side, the new tax regulations we just mentioned are causing us to miss the e-transit opportunity. Turkey should leverage its geographical advantage spanning three continents, the infrastructure of the new airport, and our national flag carrier THY-Turkish Cargo, which operates regular flights to over 100 countries. Cologne positions itself as an e-commerce hub, offering significant opportunities with specialized e-commerce customs and other advantages. Similarly, the United Arab Emirates sees this opportunity with Dubai Commercity and is tapping into its potential with substantial incentives,” he said.

"E-commerce is a great opportunity to strengthen Turkey's position in international trade"

Finally, sharing his views on the future of e-commerce in Turkey, İbrahim Taşkın said, “E-commerce is a great opportunity to strengthen Turkey's economic growth and its position in international trade. However, as we transition from traditional trade to new-generation trade, it is essential that legal regulations, which will add significant value to our economy, are implemented without delay,” he said.