Joint Statement on the third EU-Türkiye High-Level Dialogue on Trade

The European Union and Türkiye held the 3rd EU-Türkiye High Level Dialogue on Trade on 13 October 2026 in Brussels. The meeting was co-chaired by the Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency Maroš Šefčovič and Minister of Trade of Türkiye Ömer Bolat. The EU and Türkiye, a candidate country and major trade partner, have bilateral trade flows that have grown constantly over the years reaching €217.6 billion in 2025.

The Dialogue provided an opportunity to review progress in bilateral trade relations, address key market access and customs issues, and discuss areas for enhanced cooperation with a view to strengthening the EU-Türkiye economic partnership.

The EU and Türkiye underlined the strategic importance of their trade relationship and reaffirmed their shared interest in promoting growth, competitiveness and resilient value chains. They recalled the important role of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union and discussed concrete steps to improve the business environment for companies and economic operators on both sides. The Dialogue was preceded by a Business Roundtable with representatives of the business community from EU and Türkiye.

In the area of customs cooperation, the EU and Türkiye welcomed progress on customs reform, including on e-commerce, and confirmed their intention to advance work on the implementation of their agreement on the Mutual Recognition Agreement on Authorised Economic Operators. The parties recognized the importance of Türkiye's alignment with relevant EU legislation and welcomed the completion of alignment to the new EU Machinery Regulation, as an important step in ensuring free movement of goods across the Customs Union without technical barriers.

On the reduction of trade barriers, the EU and Türkiye took stock of progress achieved on priority issues and are pleased to announce the removal of the barrier on import controls under the Turkish TAREKS system, a risk-based foreign trade system for importers into Türkiye, with the understanding that constructive cooperation will continue in this field to address the practıcal ıssues raısed by EU operators. These outcomes constitute concrete steps to facilitate trade and respond to longstanding concerns raised by economic operators.

The EU and Türkiye also reviewed progress on other market access issues, including export taxes on hides, skins and wet-blue leather, the import surveillance regime, the surveillance by registration of imports of textiles and materials used in the manufacturing of textiles, and alcoholic beverages. They agreed to continue technical engagement on these matters with a view to achieving further tangible results.

The parties also noted progress on Türkiye's access to EU's energy labelling registry (EPREL) and encouraged continued work in this area. They also agreed to engage in technical discussions on Türkiye's access to CPNP. The partıes also undertook to hold technıcal discussions on the issue of batch releases for pharmaceutıcal products.

The Dialogue also covered a broad range of forward-looking cooperation areas, including alignment of technical legislation, public procurement, circular economy, business mobility, digital trade, trade defence and cooperation in the WTO framework. The EU and Türkiye also took stock of cooperation on anti-circumvention of EU sanctions.

On digital trade, the parties agreed to engage in technical work on the issue of mutual recognition of the e-signatures.

The EU and Türkiye agreed to maintain close engagement in the period ahead and to continue working towards practical solutions that support a more predictable, transparent and mutually beneficial trade relationship. They underlined the value of the High-Level Dialogue on Trade as a platform for sustaining momentum and identifying further areas of cooperation.