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Assemblée des Exportateurs de Türkiye Bureau de liaison de Bruxelles

TIM ( Turkiye Ihracatçilari Meclisi)

L'Assemblée des Exportateurs de Türkiye représente et défend les intérêts des exportateurs Turcs et collabore avec les différentes associations sectorielles et régionales d'exportateurs du pays dans leurs relations avec les Institutions Européennes, contribuant ainsi à des relations commerciales plus approfondies et à une intégration accrue de l'économie turque avec l'UE.

Lobbying Activity

Response to Trade measure addressing the negative trade-related effects of global excess capacity on the EU steel sector

16 Dec 2025

The Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) is the umbrella organization of Turkish exporters, representing more than 150,000 companies. While primarily representing exporters, TİMs scope extends beyond exports, as most exporters are also manufacturers, importers, and investors. TİM is committed to advancing policies that enhance free and fair trade, trade facilitation, and predictable and competitive investment environment. Representing all sectors, including steel, TİM is deeply concerned about the proposed measures on steel products. We fully share the EU's concerns regarding global excess capacity created by financial support provided by states. However, tackling this problem requires a broader European approach that brings in like-minded partners rather than excluding low-carbon, market-oriented, and legally integrated economies such as Türkiye. Failure to do so risks undermining EU climate objectives, increasing costs across EU manufacturing value chains, and weakening Europes economic and strategic resilience. EUTürkiye trade relations operate under the Customs Union and the TürkiyeECSC FTA , both of which ensure duty-free trade and a level playing field through the prohibition of state aid in the steel sector. The Turkish steel industry, therefore, should not be treated in the same category as state-supported, high-emission producers. Measures targeting excess capacity should not unfairly penalize like-minded partners such as Türkiye. Given the deep integration of EU and Turkish steel industries, and considering that Türkiye, whose steel manufacturing infrastructure is heavily based on electric arc furnaces, has long been a reliable supplier of high-quality steel products with a comparatively low carbon footprint, contributing significantly to the competitiveness of EU downstream industries, it is essential that the Commission thoroughly assess the implications of the proposed measures. Such an assessment must consider not only the steel supply chain but also the broader ecosystem of EU manufacturers that rely on steel as a critical input. Furthermore, from a legal perspective, any tariff increases on steel products of up to 50 percent would necessitate negotiations under WTO rules and the relevant EU trade agreements. Should the Commission intend to introduce such tariffs, it would be obliged to engage in negotiations with Türkiye and other partners. While the Commission notes that compensatory concessions could be provided through zero-duty steel quotas, most existing FTAs, including the EUTürkiye framework, already grant full tariff-free access for steel. Consequently, meaningful compensation would need to be identified in other sectors, which would require complex negotiations. Paragraph 6 of Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 indicates that [W]hen an unlimited tariff concession is replaced by a tariff rate quota, the amount of compensation provided should exceed the amount of the trade actually affected by the modification of the concession. Hence, in case the EU decides to introduce restrictive quotas, without providing at least equivalent level of concessions in other products, the only mean to comply with Article XXVIII would be the removal of at least equivalent level of concessions by trading partners. Such rebalancing measures would not be limited to steel but could extend to any sector of their choosing. This would significantly increase the risk of new trade frictions and impede overall bilateral relations. For these reasons, we respectfully call on the Commission to adopt an inclusive, proportionate, and legally sound approach. While addressing concerns in the EU steel sector, the Commission should fully consider the integrated value chains between the EU and Türkiye, the needs of EU downstream industries, and the broader implications of possible trade measures on the functioning of EU preferential agreements and overall bilateral economic relations.
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Meeting with Gerassimos Thomas (Director-General Taxation and Customs Union) and

12 Mar 2025 · Discussion of Customs cooperation in the framework of the EU-TR Customs Union and CBAM

Meeting with Nele Eichhorn (Head of Unit Trade)

27 Feb 2025 · Courtesy meeting with the representatives of TIM