Turkey to End Tax Exemptions for Low-Value Cross-Border Parcels Starting February
Beginning February 1, 2026, Turkey will officially abolish its simplified customs clearance and tax exemption policy for low-value cross-border e-commerce parcels. The move marks a significant tightening of import controls on goods sold via overseas e-commerce platforms.
According to Turkey’s Ministry of Trade, the decision is primarily driven by product safety concerns. Authorities have flagged that some cross-border e-commerce goods fail to meet EU safety standards, with certain products found to contain toxic or potentially carcinogenic substances.
Background: How the Low-Value Exemption Worked
Previously, Turkey allowed non-commercial goods purchased through overseas e-commerce platforms to enter the country under a simplified customs regime. Under this system, parcels with a CIF value of no more than €30 (approximately USD 35.08) could be cleared with minimal inspection and documentation and were exempt from additional customs duties.
This policy enabled large volumes of low-priced goods to enter the Turkish market quickly and played a key role in the rapid expansion of cross-border e-commerce.
What Changes Under the New Rules
With the new policy taking effect, simplified customs clearance will no longer apply, regardless of shipment value. All affected goods must now follow standard import declaration and inspection procedures.
As a result, bulk e-commerce shipments that previously entered the market under the guise of “personal purchases” will no longer benefit from regulatory loopholes. Turkish authorities have explicitly stated that some platforms exploited the simplified regime by splitting bulk shipments into smaller parcels to avoid higher duties and regulatory scrutiny—an approach the new rules are designed to eliminate.
Impact on Chinese Cross-Border Platforms
The policy shift is expected to have a noticeable impact on Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms, particularly Temu and AliExpress, both of which have expanded rapidly in Turkey in recent years.
Their competitive pricing and broad product selection have drawn sustained attention from domestic industries and regulators. Turkish authorities have previously launched investigations into issues including pricing practices, product safety, and potential public health risks associated with certain platform offerings.
Progressive Tightening of Import Controls
The Ministry of Trade noted that this is not an isolated policy shift. As early as October 2025, Turkey excluded higher-risk product categories—such as toys, footwear, and leather goods—from simplified clearance, many of which originated from Chinese e-commerce sellers.
Under the latest update, these restrictions are further expanded, and all excluded product categories are now subject to full standard customs procedures.
Limited Exceptions Remain
Despite the broad rollback, limited exemptions will still apply. Medical and scientific-use goods, including pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, may continue to enjoy tax exemptions if:
Shipped via postal or express courier channels, and
The total declared value per shipment does not exceed €1,500.
Policy Context: A Gradual Rollback
The elimination of low-value tax exemptions has been under discussion in Turkey for some time. On August 6, 2024, the government reduced the personal cross-border shopping tax-free threshold from €150 to €30.
In December 2024, shipping fees were added to the taxable value, effectively lowering the exemption threshold to around €27, while imposing an additional €3 fixed shipping surcharge per order.
Under the previous framework, non-commercial parcels shipped via post or express courier were subject to:
30% customs duty for goods originating from EU countries
60% customs duty for goods from non-EU countries Certain categories also incurred an additional 20% fixed consumption tax.
With the latest reform, the low-value exemption channel is now fully closed, bringing cross-border e-commerce goods firmly under Turkey’s standard import management system.
Domestic Industry and Macroeconomic Considerations
The Turkish government stated that the policy responds to long-standing appeals from domestic industrial groups, which argue that an influx of low-priced imports not only raises safety concerns but also places significant pressure on local manufacturers through aggressive price competition.
From a macroeconomic perspective, the move comes as Turkey advances its broader economic rebalancing efforts. Official data shows that annual inflation eased to 30.89% in December 2025, with monthly inflation at 0.89%.
The Central Bank of Turkey recently cut its benchmark interest rate by 150 basis points to 38%, citing faster-than-expected disinflation and stabilizing food prices.
Although the government has not explicitly linked the tariff overhaul to inflation control, economists widely believe that restricting tax-free imports can help ease current account pressures and create a more favorable environment for domestic producers.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s export performance remains resilient. In 2025, exports reached USD 273.4 billion, up 4.5% year-on-year, while total exports of goods and services approached USD 396.5 billion.
Manufacturing sentiment has also shown early signs of improvement. Data from the Istanbul Chamber of Industry indicates that the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 48.9 in December 2025, the highest level in 12 months, signaling a slowdown in contraction across production, new orders, employment, and purchasing activity.
As Turkey moves to fully integrate cross-border e-commerce goods into its standard import management system, sellers and platforms shipping into the Turkish market will need to reassess their logistics strategies, customs compliance, and cost structures. Working with an experienced international freight forwarder can help mitigate regulatory risks, ensure accurate customs declarations, and maintain stable delivery timelines under the new rules.
Forest Shipping, as an international freight forwarding company, provides end-to-end logistics solutions for cross-border e-commerce shipments from China to global destinations, including customized customs clearance support and compliant shipping arrangements. By aligning logistics planning with evolving import regulations, sellers can better navigate policy changes while maintaining operational efficiency in the Turkish market.
