Türkiye is EU's fifth-largest trading partner, trade minister says

The EU remains Türkiye's most important export market, while Türkiye is the bloc's fifth-largest trading partner, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat has stated.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, he said Türkiye is concerned about the rise of protectionism worldwide and is stepping up contacts with the European Union in a bid to launch long-awaited negotiations on modernising the existing customs union agreement, Caliber.Az reports.

According to him, the customs union agreement between Türkiye and the EU has been in force for nearly three decades and has helped economic ties reach "an unprecedented level."

Bolat made it clear that trade turnover between Türkiye and the EU reached $233 billion in 2025, with the automotive sector accounting for around $62 billion of that figure.

The minister stressed that there is now both "a firm intention and an urgent need" to begin negotiations on updating the agreement.

"Winds of protectionism are blowing across the world ... We are closely monitoring these developments," Bolat added.

He pointed to rapidly growing imports from East Asia, changes in U.S. trade policy and the EU's own industrial initiatives, including the Industrial Acceleration Act and the Made in EU programme.

However, Bolat said the launch of negotiations has so far been blocked by objections from several EU member states.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov