Minister Bolat: "Some producer countries are acting ambiguously on 'Made in EU' issues"

Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat told lawmakers during the Trade Ministry’s 2027 budget deliberations that some producer countries are acting ambiguously on “Made in EU” rules, even as he insisted Turkish goods enjoy a strong image worldwide. The remarks came in response to parliamentary questions at the budget hearings, signaling Ankara’s concern that EU-origin labeling practices may disadvantage Turkish exporters. The minister did not specify which countries or product sectors were at issue. The dispute matters because origin rules determine whether goods qualify for EU tariff preferences and single-market access, a key channel for Turkish manufacturers. Watch for further talks between Ankara and Brussels on customs-union and origin-rule implementation, and for any sector-specific complaints from Turkish exporters.