Turkish Trade Monitor

March 2026
Trade Monitor Overview

Turkish Trade Monitor – March 2026

Significant Developments in Turkish Trade and Customs Law: March 2026

In March 2026, foreign trade legislation was primarily characterized by fine-tuning of the import regime, anti-dumping investigations, and unfair competition measures. Measures aimed at protecting domestic production and combating the current account deficit continue. Furthermore, significant regulations and investigations were published/initiated in the fields of personal data protection, tax law, and competition law. The key developments are summarized below.

Import Regime and Customs Duty Regulations

1. Import Regime and Customs Duty Regulations

  • Official Gazette dated March 12, 2026 (No. 33194): Presidential Decree No. 11032 amended the Import Regime Decree, implementing tariff adjustments for specific product groups.
  • Official Gazette dated March 7, 2026 (No. 33189): Presidential Decree No. 11002 added a footnote to Chapter 31 (Fertilizers) HS Codes, stating that the customs duty will be applied as 0%.
  • March 5, 2026: The Communiqué on International Fairs Organized Domestically (Import: 2026/1) entered into force.
TTL INSIGHT Importers should closely monitor new tariff quotas and footnote applications. Early application may provide a quota advantage.
Prevention of Unfair Competition in Imports

2. Prevention of Unfair Competition in Imports (Anti-Dumping & Review)

  • March 7, 2026 – Communiqué No. 2026/5: Anti-dumping measures were updated for specific products.
  • March 13, 2026 – Communiqué No. 2026/6: The measures for a specific company regarding plywood of Malaysian origin were reduced to zero.
  • March 19, 2026 – Communiqué No. 2026/7: An Expiry Review Investigation (ERI) was initiated for food grinder blades of Chinese origin.
  • March 23, 2026 – Communiqué No. 2026/8: An ERI was initiated for door locks of Chinese origin.
TTL INSIGHT Include protective clauses in contracts carrying dumping risks and strengthen your origin verification processes.
Turkish Commercial Code and Corporate Law

3. Turkish Commercial Code (TCC) and Corporate Law

  • TCC administrative fines for 2026 have been updated by applying the revaluation rate of 25.49%.
  • The exemptions/facilitations regarding loss of capital and insolvency have been extended until January 1, 2027.
TTL INSIGHT Conduct a compliance audit during the fiscal year-end; delays can be costly.
Other Key Developments

4. Other Key Developments

  • Customs circulars and TAREKS (Risk-Based Control System in Foreign Trade) inspections are ongoing.
  • The transitional provisions of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Rules of Origin provide certain exemptions until March 31, 2026.
  • Following the abolition of the low-value import exemption (30 Euros), standard customs declaration requirements have been fully implemented for e-commerce and courier imports.
TTL INSIGHT E-commerce importers should recalculate their logistics costs.
Foreign Companies and Individual Investors

5. Special Developments for Foreign Companies and Individual Investors

  • Net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) remained at low levels; however, M&A opportunities remain vibrant.
  • While TCC facilitations continue for foreign-capitalized companies, anti-dumping and origin rules pose risks.
  • PEM origin cumulation and A.TR certificates maintain their critical importance.
TTL INSIGHT (For Foreign Investors) Evaluate Investment Office incentives; include anti-dumping clauses in contracts and initiate capital compliance processes early.
Personal Data Protection (KVKK)

6. Personal Data Protection (KVKK) Developments

  • March 24, 2026 – KVKK Principle Decision (2026/347): Privacy notices and explicit consent forms must be presented separately; the practice of "bundled" single-text forms is deemed unlawful.
  • March 31, 2026 – KVKK Principle Decision (2026/348): Posting debt lists of apartments/complexes in common areas constitutes a KVKK violation.
  • The compliance period for loyalty card programs continues until August 2026.
TTL INSIGHT (KVKK) Review existing texts immediately; there is a high risk of administrative fines. Foreign companies should align their processes with GDPR.
Tax Law Developments

7. Tax Law Developments

  • March 27, 2026 – Presidential Decree No. 11107: Withholding tax rates on investment fund earnings were reorganized (0% withholding is maintained for equity-intensive funds, while others are set at 17.5%).
  • March 28, 2026 – Tax Procedure Law General Communiqué (Serial No. 592): Authorized tax settlement commissions were clarified based on the amount of the tax/fine.
  • Expectations for a comprehensive tax amnesty have shifted to the April-Summer 2026 period.
  • April 2026 Tax Calendar Summary:
    • April 27: Declarations/payments for March 2026 VAT, Withholding, and Stamp Tax.
    • April 30: 2025 Corporate Income Tax declaration and payment (the most critical deadline).
TTL INSIGHT (Tax) Foreign investors should evaluate the fund withholding changes in their portfolios; do not miss the April 30 corporate tax deadline.
Competition Law Developments

8. Competition Law Developments

March 2026 was active with the Competition Authority's investigations into the labor market and professional services sectors:

  • Following a decision dated February 24, 2026, with effects felt in March: Investigations were launched against 26 undertakings in banking, participation banking, insurance, and IT sectors regarding "no-poaching" agreements and the exchange of competitively sensitive information.
  • March 11, 2026: A large-scale investigation was initiated against 65 undertakings and professional organizations (including the Big Four) in the independent auditing and financial advisory sectors regarding price-fixing, customer sharing, no-poaching, and information exchange.
  • Update on Merger and Acquisition (M&A) Legislation: Turnover thresholds in Communiqué No. 2010/4 were increased, special regulations were introduced for technology companies, and notification forms were simplified. These changes significantly impact the M&A processes of foreign investors.
TTL INSIGHT (Competition) Foreign companies and international investors should review non-compete and employee transfer clauses in employment contracts. No-poaching and information-sharing practices carry severe administrative fine risks. Those planning M&As should check the updated turnover thresholds; settlement/commitment mechanisms may expedite investigations.

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Disclaimer: This bulletin is prepared for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The content is based on publicly available sources and may not reflect the most current legal developments. For specific legal matters, please consult with a qualified attorney. Turkish Trade Lawyers assumes no liability for actions taken based on this information.