The Israeli government is considering imposing 100% customs duties on all Turkish imports
The Israeli government is preparing to take a new escalatory step against Türkiye, and is scheduled to discuss on Sunday the decision of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to impose 100 percent tariffs on all products imported from Türkiye.
According to the text of the decision, which will be submitted for approval by the government, the move to impose customs duties comes as a “temporary measure” valid until the end of the term of current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The move is part of a series of measures taken by Israel in response to the decision of Türkiye and its president, Erdogan, to suspend trade transactions between the two countries.
For Smotrich, the proposal is intended to protect Israeli industry and promote diversification of import sources
Last May, Erdogan ordered a halt to Turkish exports to Israel.
Erdogan stressed at the time that this decision aims to force Israel to cease fire in the Gaza Strip, saying, “We’ve one goal, which is to force the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which has spiraled out of control with military and diplomatic support from the West, to cease fire in Gaza”.
Following the Ankara Declaration, Israel tasked the ministers of economy, foreign affairs and finance to take the necessary steps to strengthen Israeli industry and help diversify Israeli sources of imports regarding products currently imported from Türkiye to Israel.
The halt to exports is expected to significantly damage trade between the two countries.
In 2023, the volume of trade between Israel and Türkiye amounted to $6.8 billion, and imports from Türkiye accounted for 76%, equivalent to more than $5 billion, accounting for 6% of Israel’s total imports; Many industries in Israel rely on raw materials and products from Türkiye.
According to experts, halting exports could lead to higher prices, lower production and even layoffs, and Israel will need to find alternative markets for raw materials and products it used to import from Türkiye.
