Turkey's 30+ Free Trade Agreements: A Market Access Guide

Turkey's Free Trade Network: The Key to Global Access

Over the past 30 years, Turkey has signed more than 30 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), becoming one of the countries with the widest preferential trade network in the world. These agreements provide Turkish exporters and international buyers sourcing from Turkey with access to broad markets at reduced or zero customs duties.

In addition to the EU Customs Union, this FTA network positions Turkey as a strategic node in global trade. In 2025, Turkey's trade volume with FTA partners exceeded $85 billion, and the share of exports benefiting from preferential tariff rates reached 15 percent of total exports.

Free trade agreements do not merely reduce customs duties; they also lower technical barriers to trade, encourage investment, and deepen economic cooperation. Turkey's FTA network provides exporters with a unique competitive advantage.

Turkey's Free Trade Agreements: Complete List

Europe and Western Balkans FTAs

1. EFTA Countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)

• In force: 1992
• Coverage: Industrial products and processed agricultural products
• Advantage: Zero customs on industrial goods
• Switzerland ranks among Turkey's top 10 export markets

2. Bosnia and Herzegovina

• In force: 2003
• Coverage: Industrial and certain agricultural products
• Advantage: Comprehensive tariff elimination

3. North Macedonia

• In force: 2000
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products
• Advantage: Near-zero tariffs on virtually all products

4. Albania

• In force: 2008
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products
• Advantage: Comprehensive liberalization

5. Serbia

• In force: 2010
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products
• Advantage: Dual advantage potential as an EU candidate country

6. Montenegro

• In force: 2010
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products

7. Kosovo

• In force: 2013
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products

Middle East and North Africa FTAs

8. Israel

• In force: 1997
• Coverage: Industrial products
• Advantage: Zero tariffs on high-tech products

9. Palestine

• In force: 2005
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products

10. Tunisia

• In force: 2005
• Coverage: Industrial products
• Advantage: A gateway to North Africa

11. Morocco

• In force: 2006
• Coverage: Industrial and certain agricultural products
• Advantage: Third-country advantage through Morocco's partnership agreement with the EU

12. Egypt

• In force: 2007
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products
• Advantage: Preferential access to a market of 100 million

13. Syria (suspended)

• Signed: 2007 — Not applied due to current conditions

14. Jordan

• In force: 2011
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products

Asia and Far East FTAs

15. Georgia

• In force: 2008
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products
• Advantage: Gateway to the Caucasus and Central Asia

16. South Korea

• In force: 2013
• Coverage: Industrial products with phased tariff reductions
• Advantage: Preferential trade with one of Asia's most developed economies

17. Malaysia

• In force: 2015
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products
• Advantage: Entry point to the ASEAN market

18. Singapore

• In force: 2017
• Coverage: Industrial products and services
• Advantage: Southeast Asia's financial and trade hub

19. Pakistan

• In force (framework): 2020
• Coverage: Tariff reductions on specific product groups

South America and Other FTAs

20. Chile

• In force: 2011
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products
• Advantage: First FTA bridge to South America

21. Mauritius

• In force: 2013
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products

22. Moldova

• In force: 2016
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products

23. Faroe Islands

• In force: 2017
• Coverage: Industrial products and seafood

24. Venezuela

• Signed: 2020
• Coverage: Industrial and agricultural products

25. United Kingdom

• In force: 2021 (post-Brexit)
• Coverage: Products under the EU Customs Union scope
• Advantage: Preservation of rights from the Customs Union

FTAs Under Negotiation or Recently Signed

Under negotiation:

• Japan
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Mexico
• Colombia
• Peru
• Ecuador
• Ukraine (update)
• GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) — Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman
• MERCOSUR (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay)
• India (preferential trade agreement)

The GCC FTA negotiations are one of Turkey's most important agenda items. Upon completion, preferential access to the $2 trillion Gulf economy would be secured, and Turkish exports could increase by an estimated $5–8 billion annually.

How to Benefit from Free Trade Agreements

Rules of Origin: The Fundamental Requirement

The primary condition for benefiting from FTAs is that the exported product meets the rules of origin. Each agreement has its own specific rules of origin, but the general principles are:

Wholly obtained products:

• Agricultural products (grown, harvested)
• Mineral products (extracted)
• Live animals born and raised in Turkey

Products that have undergone sufficient working or processing:

• Tariff heading change rule
• Value-added rule (typically 40–60% domestic value added)
• Specific process rule (sector-specific criteria)

Required Documents

EUR.1 Movement Certificate:

• The primary document used in preferential trade under FTAs
• Endorsed by Chambers of Commerce and Industry
• Issued separately for each shipment

Origin Declaration:

• For shipments below €6,000, can be written by the exporter on the invoice
• Companies with Approved Exporter status can use it for any amount

A.TR Movement Certificate:

• For trade under the EU Customs Union (not FTA)
• For industrial products in free circulation

Approved Exporter Status

Companies with high export volumes can obtain Approved Exporter status to:

• Use invoice declarations instead of EUR.1 certificates
• Speed up customs procedures
• Reduce operational costs
• Shorten document preparation times

Application requirements:

• At least 50 shipments or $500,000 in exports in the past year
• Customs compliance track record
• Competency in rules of origin
• Adequate record-keeping systems

Sectoral FTA Advantages

Textiles and Apparel

FTA advantages for the textile sector are particularly significant. Thanks to origin cumulation:

• Garments produced in Turkey using fabric imported from the EU can be exported to FTA partner countries at preferential tariffs
• The Pan-Euro-Mediterranean cumulation system provides broad supply chain flexibility
• Significant tariff advantages exist in textile trade with South Korea, Israel, and EFTA

Automotive and Parts

• Zero tariffs on automotive parts exports to EFTA countries
• Phased tariff reductions with South Korea continue
• Preservation of post-Brexit rights with the United Kingdom
• Preferential tariffs on automotive parts exports to Egypt and Morocco

Food and Agriculture

• Reduced tariffs on processed food products to EFTA countries
• Preferential access for agricultural products to Morocco and Tunisia
• Advantages in agricultural trade with Georgia and Moldova
• Comprehensive liberalization on food exports to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania

Machinery and Equipment

• Nearly all FTAs offer zero tariffs on industrial products
• Full liberalization on machinery exports to EFTA countries
• Advantages on technology products to South Korea and Singapore
• Preferential tariffs on infrastructure equipment exports to Balkan countries

Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Origin Cumulation (PEM)

How Does the System Work?

The PEM Convention provides origin cumulation across a broad group of countries that includes Turkey. Under this system:

• Raw materials imported from one PEM country can gain origin status in a final product manufactured in another PEM country
• Flexibility across supply chain countries increases
• Obtaining preferential origin in complex manufacturing processes becomes easier

PEM Convention parties:

• EU 27 member states
• EFTA countries
• Turkey
• Balkan countries
• Southern Mediterranean countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Palestine)
• Faroe Islands and Moldova

Practical Example

A Turkish textile company:

1. Imports fabric from Italy (EU origin)
2. Manufactures garments in Turkey (sufficient processing)
3. Exports to Morocco (Turkey-Morocco FTA)

Thanks to PEM cumulation, the Italian fabric is considered Turkish origin, and the final product enters Morocco at preferential tariffs.

Strategies for Maximizing FTA Benefits

1. Conduct Tariff Analysis

Each FTA has different tariff schedules. Based on the HS (Harmonized System) code of the product you will export:

• Check the normal tariff rate
• Check the FTA preferential tariff rate
• Monitor transition periods and phased reductions

2. Ensure Rules of Origin Compliance

• Plan your production process according to rules of origin
• Select raw material sources compatible with PEM cumulation
• Maintain origin proof documents in good order
• Establish internal audit mechanisms

3. Automate the Certification Process

• Standardize the EUR.1 issuance process
• Apply for Approved Exporter status
• Use a digital document management system
• Maintain regular coordination with your customs broker

4. Monitor New Opportunities

• Track FTAs under negotiation
• Follow update processes for existing FTAs
• Attend briefings from sectoral exporters' associations
• Regularly check Ministry of Trade announcements

Common Mistakes and Solutions

Mistake 1: Not issuing or incorrectly issuing origin certificates

• Solution: Verify origin rule compliance before each shipment

Mistake 2: Issuing documents under the wrong FTA

• Solution: Verify which FTA covers the destination country

Mistake 3: Not understanding cumulation rules

• Solution: Learn the PEM Convention rules and structure your supply chain accordingly

Mistake 4: Overlooking transitional tariff schedules

• Solution: Regularly track tariff calendars and plan for optimal timing

Mistake 5: Not reflecting FTA advantages in pricing

• Solution: Demonstrate the tariff advantage to customers to strengthen your competitiveness

Conclusion: The FTA Network Is a Competitive Advantage

Turkey's 30+ free trade agreements provide exporters and buyers sourcing from Turkey with unmatched market access. Effectively leveraging these agreements delivers not only cost advantages but also a strategic competitive edge.

At Toko Trading, we offer origin analysis, certification support, and tariff optimization services to help you benefit from all the advantages that FTAs provide. Our professional team helps minimize your costs by identifying the most suitable FTA scope for each export transaction.