Turkey Abolishes €30 Duty-Free on Cross-Border E-Commerce Imports

Turkey abolished a long-standing customs exemption on low-value goods purchased from abroad via postal services and express couriers, tightening controls on cross-border e-commerce as part of broader efforts to manage imports and protect domestic markets.

Under a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday, Ankara removed the €30 duty-free threshold, roughly equivalent to $35, that had applied to non-commercial goods ordered from overseas. The new regulations will take effect within 30 days.

According to the decree, customs exemptions will now be limited almost exclusively to medicines and dietary supplements, provided their total value does not exceed €1,500. All other imported consumer goods ordered online will be subject to customs duties, regardless of price.

The decision marks a significant shift for Turkish consumers, many of whom have increasingly relied on international e-commerce platforms to purchase low-cost electronics, clothing, and household items amid years of high inflation and currency volatility.

The policy change comes as Turkey continues to navigate a delicate economic rebalancing. Annual inflation eased to 30.89% in December, according to official data, while monthly inflation edged up to 0.89%. The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey last month cut its benchmark interest rate by 150 basis points to 38%, citing early indicators that inflation was cooling faster than expected, supported in part by more stable food prices.

Officials have not explicitly linked the customs move to inflation management, but economists say limiting duty-free imports could help reduce pressure on the current account deficit and support local producers facing competition from cheaper foreign goods.

The change also coincides with a period of strong export performance. Turkey’s exports reached a record $273.4 billion in 2025, up 4.5% from the previous year, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during an event at the Istanbul Congress Center. Total exports of goods and services were estimated at $396.5 billion.

Meanwhile, manufacturing sentiment has shown tentative signs of improvement. The Istanbul Chamber of Industry’s Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 48.9 in December, its highest level in 12 months, reflecting a slower pace of contraction in production, new orders, employment, and purchasing activity.

While the removal of the duty-free threshold is expected to increase costs for consumers, authorities appear to be betting that stronger exports, easing inflation, and tighter import controls will help stabilize the economy in the months ahead.