10.01.2026 14:30
As of February 6, all products purchased online from abroad will be subject to customs procedures and a declaration requirement will be introduced. İTO President Şekib Avdagiç stated that they welcomed the decision, but closed the comments on his post due to reactions. On social media, there were notable posts indicating that the prices of some products brought from abroad have nearly doubled in a short period.
With the presidential decision published in the Official Gazette, all products purchased from abroad via the internet will be subject to customs procedures starting from February 6. Thus, consumers will need to submit a customs declaration for all orders they place from abroad and will have to pay for this service. In practice, this will eliminate the price advantage of ordering cheap products from abroad.
AVDAGİÇ SAID "WE ARE SATISFIED"
Following the decision, a noteworthy statement came from Şekib Avdagiç, the President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO). Avdagiç expressed that they welcomed the decision, stating, "We are pleased to welcome the Presidential Decision regarding the customs procedures for mail or cargo from abroad without the 30 Euro limit, which we have long kept on the agenda as the business world and consider important in terms of protecting local producers and production. We know that the EU is also considering lifting the 150 Euro duty-free shopping exemption. We see the decision published in the Official Gazette as a step that reflects global protective trade reflexes and should be evaluated in coordination with international trends."
REACTIONS CAME IN RAPID SUCCESSION, HE CLOSED COMMENTS ON HIS POST
In response to Avdagiç's remarks, reactions came in rapid succession from both producers and consumers, as well as experts. It was observed that Avdagiç closed comments on the relevant message after the incoming reactions.
PRICES OF SOME PRODUCTS NEARLY DOUBLED IN THE LAST WEEK
On the other hand, it was seen in social media posts that the prices of many products brought from abroad have nearly doubled in the last week.
Some of the shared posts are as follows;
- The TV remote I added to my cart on Trendyol last week for 500 TL is now 900 TL this week... Thank you, Şekip Avdagiç.
- Thanks to Mr. Şekib, a student who could buy a cable for 40-50 TL can now not find it for less than 800-900 TL. A teacher who would buy a simple pen for 100 TL will not buy it for 1000 TL. The equivalent of these products will not be produced in Turkey. You designed, planned, and implemented this oppression on the Turkish people. So how did the economic management fall into this trap?
- He should just get out of that chair...
- Our state did not victimize capital owners again.
- Once again, it was the citizens who suffered.
- Why is there no inspection of products brought from abroad and sold in Turkey?
- The guy is on the board of directors of 20 different companies.