The Turkish government is extending import duties on many steel products, according to an amendment to the Import Regime Decree published in the Official Gazette on September 24. The new duties will be valid until December 31, 2020.
Turkey raised import duties for the first time in April to support the steel industry and increase local production, consumption, and employment in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These additional duties were later extended until September 30, and will now remain in effect until the end of the year. The duties have been applied to imports from third countries, excluding the EU and those having a free trade agreement with Turkey.
According to the document, custom duty for steel products under HS code 7207 (mainly steel billet) will remain at 17pc; for products under HS code 7208 (mainly hot-rolled coils) at 14pc; for products under HS code 7209 (mainly cold-rolled coils) at 15pc; for products under HS code 7210 (mainly coated flat products) at 20pc; and for products under HS code 7216 (mainly non-alloy sections) at 22pc.
It should be noted that the inward processing regime remains valid and no duties will are applied in those cases.