Trade Ministry

Turkey's exports hit $10 billion in May, down 40.9% from the same month last year amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the preliminary Trade Ministry data on June 2. 

Turkey has launched a financial support package to cushion exporters from the impact of coronavirus, Ruhsar Pekcan, the trade minister, announced on May 22. 

The package, called the Stock Financing Support Package, came into use through Turk Eximbank, according to a press release issued by the Trade Ministry.

Turkey's exports of milk and other dairy products to China will resume, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said on May 21 and added that 54 Turkish companies will be able to export to China.

In a tweet, Pekcan said she welcomed the Chinese dairy market opening to Turkish exporters, after Chinese authorities deemed Turkey an exportable country.

Turkey has set a price limit of maximum 1 Turkish Lira ($0.14) -- including VAT -- for face masks, the country's Trade Ministry announced on May 7.

Starting on May 8, medical masks can be sold in markets, pharmacies, companies selling medical devices, and through e-trade platforms.

Turkey's foreign trade volume diminished 34.31% year-on-year to $21.9 billion in April, according to a preliminary Trade Ministry data released on May 4. 

The country's export volume was negatively impacted by coronavirus in the month, the ministry said in a statement.

The figure dropped %41.38% on a yearly basis to $9 billion in the month.

Turkey on May 2 lifted restrictions on the export of medical supplies, a move that should facilitate the sale of equipment to western countries where there have been shortages.    

The Trade Ministry lifted the restrictions on the sale abroad of respirators, intubators, and disinfectants such as ethanol, according to a decree published in the Official Gazette.

The Turkish government, Facebook and a powerful business group are working together to create a digital training portal for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Turkey's Trade Ministry said on April 28. 

Turkish police and gendarmerie's anti-smuggling and organized crime teams have carried out 288 operations in 65 provinces of Turkey in one month against attempts to produce fake, unauthorized and unhealthy disinfectants, colognes, masks and healthcare products.

Turkey's foreign trade volume grew 3.6 percent year-on-year to $98.4 billion in the first quarter of 2020, according to a preliminary Trade Ministry data released on April 2.

The country's exports volume was choked off by coronavirus in January-March after seeing 4 percent rise in the first two months, the ministry said in a statement. 

Turkey has launched a legal challenge at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against EU tariffs on steel imports, the country's Trade Ministry said on March 20.

The EU launched an investigation and imposed curbs on steel imports in July 2018 in response to import duties applied by the United States.