Under the FTA Protocol of Origin, the flexible rules of origin for electric accumulators and electric vehicles were to be applied until 2024. However, with the decision taken on December 21, 2023, this period was extended until 2027.

ODMD Chairman Ali Haydar Bozkurt made a statement regarding the decision taken by the Ministry of Trade on December 21: We have learned today that the Ministry of Trade has decided to continue the flexible application of the rules of origin for electric accumulators and electric vehicles in the Turkey-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA) until December 31, 2026. This development was welcomed with great satisfaction by our industry. As Turkey, the extension of the current rules has been on the agenda of the Ministry of Trade and our industry for a long time within the framework of the demands of entrepreneurs, including potential electric vehicle manufacturers in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom, for the continuation of flexible rules of origin.

As it is known, under the FTA Protocol of Origin, the flexible rules of origin for electric accumulators and electric vehicles were to be applied until 2024. However, with the decision taken on December 21, 2023, this period was extended until 2027. Thanks to the aforementioned decision, the flexible rules of origin have been maintained, allowing our exporters to continue to benefit from the preferential regime in the FTA for the aforementioned products for a while longer and preventing them from being subject to a 10 percent customs duty. In the Ministry’s statement, it was also stated that this decision prevented a loss of approximately 615 million dollars in our electric vehicle exports to the United Kingdom. On the other hand, with this decision, the time has been given to certain companies to finalize their investments, and even if strict rules of origin are adopted in 2027, it has been ensured as a result of the efforts of our ministry to be prepared for the new practice with our gains to be obtained through investments.