Minister of Commerce Ömer Bolat pointed out that regulating trade with Syria according to new conditions in 2025 and increasing trade and investments are among his priorities and said, “Our point of view is to continue the free trade agreement. From our point of view, it was continuing legally, but it was actually stopped, hopefully we will put this right. ” he said.
Following the New GAP Action Plan Consultation Meeting and the last Economy Coordination Board (EKK) Meeting of this year, the Economy Management met with journalists and answered questions about the agenda.
Referring to the areas that the Ministry will prioritize in the coming year, Bolat said, “Our priority is to regulate trade with Syria according to new conditions, to increase trade and investments, and to ensure that the new era in Syria is stable, strong and, for Turkey, the presence of our reliable neighbor on our southern borders.” he said.
Stating that they started to renew and develop customs, Bolat stated that in this context, they renewed the Ceylanpınar Customs Directorate and that the expansion works of the Akçakale Customs Directorate were accelerated.
Bolat pointed out that there was an unfinished free trade agreement signed with Syria in 2007 and made the following assessment:
“We will discuss it after the new administration, government and ministers are fully determined and they have completely taken over the administration. Our point of view is that the free trade agreement should continue. From our point of view, it was continuing legally, but it was stopped de facto. Hopefully, we will put this in order. Trade has been carried out with some circulars so far. “It will be put into normal order.”
Stating that continuing the increasing trend in exports of goods and services in the field of foreign trade is among his priorities for the next year, Bolat said that in addition to having the foreign exchange sufficiency to make compulsory imports, preventing practices that are unfair and contrary to international trade rules that harm industrialists is also among his priorities.
Bolat stated that there has been a very positive development in this regard, with the foreign trade and current account deficit decreasing significantly in 2024, and that this development has made a significant contribution to the stable process they have achieved in the money and foreign exchange markets.
Pointing out that foreign exchange reserves are in good condition and will rise further, Bolat said, “This is a development that will give confidence and predictability to economic actors at home and abroad.” he said.
“NEGOTIATIONS WITH ENGLAND FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE FTA WILL CONTINUE”
Pointing out that negotiations will continue with the European Union (EU) to resolve some problematic issues of the current Customs Union, Bolat made the following evaluations:
“We hope that the intensive visits and positive statements from both the USA and the EU to our country after the developments in Syria will have a positive impact on Turkey’s political and economic relations, especially with the EU, the UK and the USA. The free trade agreement with the UK will have a positive impact on services.” “Negotiations for expansion to other sectors will continue.”
Stating that they will accelerate the FTA negotiations covering goods and services with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Bolat said that their efforts to increase exports on the axis from South America to Asia in the Organization of Turkish States, relations with Russia and Ukraine, increasing investment and trade relations with African countries, and the distant countries strategy will continue. .
Bolat also touched upon the issue of adaptation to the EU’s green transformation and stated that the Border Carbon Tax will come into force on January 1, 2026, and that they will accelerate their efforts to adapt to the green transformation in coordination with relevant organizations and sectors.
“OUR CABINET IS FIGHTING HARDLY”
Stating that they left behind the turbulent period with the effects of the Covid-19 epidemic, the Russia-Ukraine War, Israel’s attacks on Gaza and the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Bolat said, “Under the leadership of our President, both our cabinet in 2018-2023 and on June 3, 2023 Our cabinet, which took over the duty, put an end to this turbulent process and fought hard to progress the process in which the markets were stable and inflation was reduced. “does.” he said.
“WE MADE NEARLY 50 SECTORAL REGULATIONS THIS YEAR”
Stating that they made nearly 50 sectoral regulations this year, from the automotive to the real estate sector, from consumer contracts to house-to-house sales and determining installments in many areas, Bolat also said that the legal regulation adopted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly, in which the penalties were increased at very high rates in the name of combating exorbitant prices and hoarding, is important in this respect. also drew attention to its impact.
Bolat stated that new regulations were made in the field of consumer protection and market surveillance and that they implemented them very effectively.
Stating that they are in coordination with the teams of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the staff of the Ministries of Treasury and Finance and the Ministries of Labor and Social Security, Bolat said, “We are determined to use all the powers given to the ministries by the law to the fullest, especially against those who engage in monopolistic practices or greedy actions and practices for exorbitant prices.” he said.
Drawing attention to the decline in inflation, Bolat stated that they will close the year with 44-45 percent of inflation as of December, and that these issues will be talked about less when inflation drops to 20 percent in the same period of next year.
“INSPECTIONS WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT DISRUPTION”
Bolat stated that inspections were intensified against those who increased product prices after the minimum wage was determined, and pointed out that they warned sellers about this issue.
Explaining that the increase in input costs is normal and foreign exchange markets and energy prices are stable, Bolat said:
“In such a process, the only argument that can be used to increase prices is the increase in labor costs. But here too, trying to increase the price at the same rate by reflecting the increase in labor wages as the increase in the entire cost is an exorbitant price increase, an unfair price increase. We have said many times that we will not allow these and “We have increased the inspections.”
Minister Bolat pointed out that they inspected 4 thousand 378 markets across the country with the announcement of the minimum wage, and shared the following information about the inspections:
“Nearly 400 thousand products were inspected. At the end of this, a penalty of around 10 million liras was imposed. 2 thousand 668 markets were referred to the Unfair Price Assessment Board, this is a second criminal case. Here too, the heaviest penalties, within the authority given by the law, will be applied. Parliament’s According to the amendment to the law passed in 2017, a maximum fine of up to 1 million lira can be imposed for price gouging and up to 12 million lira for hoarding, and as of January 1, this amount will be subject to re-evaluation. Penalties will be increased. These heavy fines will be imposed up to 1 million 440 thousand liras for exorbitant prices and 17 million liras for stockpiling. As all relevant ministries, we are on the markets and we never take our hands off the markets. “We are doing what is necessary.”
