Trade Minister Ömer Bolat spoke at the Türkiye-EU Business Summit in Brussels on Oct. 13. (AA Photo)
Trade Minister Ömer Bolat has urged the European Union to include Türkiye as an equal partner in its industrial plans, calling for a “Made with Europe” approach that preserves production ties under the customs union.
Speaking at the Türkiye-EU Business Summit in Brussels on Oct. 13, Bolat said Ankara shared European concerns about large volumes of imports from third countries.
“But the solution should not be to exclude trusted partners,” he said.
Bolat was referring to the EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act and its “Made in EU” requirements.
He said Türkiye’s inclusion would benefit manufacturers on both sides and that Ankara was working with European counterparts on the proposal.
Annual bilateral trade reached $233 billion last year, including $62 billion in automotive trade, Bolat said.
Last year’s trade dialogue had reduced unresolved customs union issues from 29 to 14, he added.
Bolat also co-chaired a separate trade dialogue with EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič.
A joint statement announced the removal of a barrier involving import controls under Türkiye’s TAREKS system.
Both sides said cooperation would continue to address practical difficulties raised by European businesses.
They also agreed to advance implementation of an agreement on mutual recognition of authorized economic operators, a customs status for trusted traders, and welcomed Türkiye’s alignment with the EU’s new machinery regulation.
The two sides agreed to begin technical work on recognizing each other’s electronic signatures and continue talks on outstanding market access issues, including textiles and alcoholic beverages.
Bolat also said recent EU measures had eased visa procedures, but significant obstacles remained for Turkish businesspeople, academics, transport operators and students.
