Türkiye’s Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat announced that despite the European Union’s (EU) decision to temporarily apply a 3-euro customs duty on low-value parcels worth up to 150 euros and imported from outside the EU into member states, the fundamental principles of the Customs Union between Türkiye and the EU will also be preserved in the field of cross-border e-commerce.

The Ministry of Trade issued a press release on the matter. The statement recalled that the EU’s practice of removing the customs exemption for e-commerce shipments under 150 euros from third countries and applying a 3-euro customs duty per item entered into force on July 1. The statement noted that the practice will continue until July 1, 2028, when the EU Customs Data Hub will be established, and stated that the simplified practice will be completely abolished as of that date.

Ömer Bolat: Initiatives Were Taken to Preserve the Legal Gains of the Türkiye-EU Customs Union

The statement also included the views of Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat. Pointing out that they carried out negotiations on behalf of Türkiye to preserve the Customs Union gains in cross-border e-commerce with the EU, Bolat said, “From the first day the preparations for the said regulation were initiated by the EU, the Ministry of Trade has carried out intensive diplomatic and technical initiatives before the European Commission in order to preserve the legal gains of the Türkiye-EU Customs Union.”

Bolat provided the following information: “The European Commission has notified that products in free circulation in Türkiye and sent to the EU through e-commerce accompanied by an ‘A.TR movement certificate’ may continue to benefit from the preferential regime under a simplified procedure within the scope of the H1 customs declaration. Thus, an important gain has been achieved in terms of preserving the fundamental principles of the Customs Union between Türkiye and the EU in the field of cross-border e-commerce as well.”

“Our Initiatives Continue for Our Country to Be Exempted from the Transaction Fee Practice”

Bolat stated that the ministry has not only taken initiatives to preserve existing rights, but has also simultaneously carried out the necessary technical infrastructure work in order to ensure that the preferential regime continues uninterrupted in practice for low-value e-commerce shipments. In this context, Bolat reported that a technical system has been established to enable express cargo operators to issue a simplified “A.TR movement certificate” for e-commerce shipments under 150 euros.

Ömer Bolat also pointed out that preparations regarding the implementation will be completed as soon as possible. Bolat said, “We will continue our contacts to ensure that the simplified system established with the EU is planned in an effective, uniform and practical manner within the EU, without imposing a burden on our e-exporters.”

“Our Initiatives Will Continue for the Continuation of Cross-Border E-Commerce”

In this context, Bolat stated that they will continue technical work with the European Commission without interruption in order to implement a permanent and stronger solution that will allow the use of the “A.TR movement certificate” also within the scope of the “H7 customs declaration” used by the EU in e-commerce, and said the following:

“On the other hand, our initiatives continue with determination for our country to be exempted from the transaction fee (handling fee) practice planned to be implemented by the EU in the coming period. Considering Türkiye’s advanced level of integration within the scope of the Customs Union and its high level of alignment in product safety and customs legislation, we state at every level before the European Commission that our country’s exemption from this practice is justified and necessary.

As the Ministry of Trade, we will continue with determination all our initiatives that will protect the competitiveness of our exporters and e-exporters in the EU market, strengthen the gains provided by the Customs Union and ensure the uninterrupted continuation of cross-border e-commerce.”