20.11.2025 14:05
The European Union plans to abolish the customs duty exemption for overseas orders under 150 euros starting from 2026. While this regulation is expected to negatively impact Turkey's e-export to the EU market, business representatives have requested that Turkey be exempted to mitigate the effects of this decision.
The European Union (EU) countries are preparing to abolish the customs duty exemption limit for overseas orders under 150 euros by 2026. This step is considered a significant move that could directly impact Turkey's e-export to the EU market.
Although it is stated that the regulation aims to limit shipments originating from China, it is expected that small-scale e-commerce shipments from Turkey will also fall under this scope in its current form.
Business representatives and sector representatives emphasize that Turkey should be exempt from this application, drawing attention to its Customs Union membership and strong supply chain integration.
UNCERTAINTY MUST BE ADDRESSED
Şekib Avdagiç, President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), stated in his evaluation regarding the issue that a change is planned in the regulation regarding the duty-free entry of goods under 150 euros into the EU, which is currently in practice, expressing that this limit will be reduced to zero for shipments coming from outside the EU and will be subject to customs.
Avdagiç pointed out that the EU has implemented this regulation particularly for goods coming from China, stating, "In 2024, 91% of all e-commerce shipments under 150 euros in the EU will have come from China. However, it is not clear which countries this new application will cover under the current regulation. This situation may also affect our entrepreneurs. Therefore, the uncertainty needs to be resolved as soon as possible. At this point, it is essential that Turkey, which is a member of the Customs Union and one of the closest trading partners of the EU, is exempt from this planned regulation."
SMEs WILL BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED
Şekib Avdagiç conveyed that Turkey is not a threat to the economies of EU countries like China, but rather a complementary and close commercial ally, noting that the Ministry of Trade has already taken the necessary initiatives in this regard.
Avdagiç stated that e-export is expected to reach 8 billion dollars this year, expressing:
"A significant portion of this is made to EU countries. If the EU excludes Turkey from the customs exemption, this will negatively affect our e-export at the SME level. In this context, we believe that the EU will make the necessary regulation for Turkey, a member of the Customs Union, and that our Ministry of Trade will successfully carry out all necessary initiatives."
TEXTILE AND READY-MADE CLOTHING SECTOR ON ALERT
Mustafa Gültepe, President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), also stated that the EU's decision to abolish the customs duty exemption for e-imports under 150 euros starting from 2026 is actually aimed at limiting shipments originating from China.
Gültepe expressed that it has been understood that shipments from Turkey will also be evaluated within the same scope, stating that if the regulation comes into effect in its current form, it will create direct pressure on the e-export of the Turkish textile and ready-made clothing sector to the EU.
Gültepe noted that the share of e-export in Turkey's total exports is around 2.5%, approximately 6.5 billion dollars, stating, "The EU holds a significant place in this volume. Additionally, the fact that the share of spending by other countries on Turkish e-commerce sites is only 6.2% of total e-commerce shows that the sector is still fragile and needs to scale up."
ADDITIONAL COST PRESSURE
Mustafa Gültepe pointed out that considering the significant market loss experienced in the European textile and ready-made clothing market in recent years, the abolition of the 150 euro exemption will subject Turkish products to additional cost pressure.
In this negative scenario, Gültepe stated that especially SMEs and producer workshops selling through e-commerce platforms will inevitably face a decrease in orders, revenue, and employment loss risks, adding:
"Therefore, it is critically important for Turkey to request exemption from the EU, highlighting strong arguments such as Customs Union partnership, supply chain integration, and capacity for compliance with the EU. If exemption cannot be granted, balancing measures such as strengthening e-export supports towards the EU and reducing logistics costs will be important for our exporters to maintain their competitiveness."