Turks fire back as Trump ends preferential trade status
The United States removed Turkey from its list of countries that enjoy tariff-free access to the US market, a decision criticized by the Turkish government.
ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish government today criticized the US decision to remove Turkey from its list of nations that enjoy tariff-free access to the US market, saying the move would hurt producers in both countries.
Turkish commentators accused Washington of political motivations. One trade expert said it was not a coincidence that the move came as US envoys were trying to persuade Turkey to abandon its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system.
The US Trade Representative’s Office declared that Turkey was no longer entitled to benefit from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) because the country is “sufficiently economically developed.” Turkey joined the GSP in 1975. It meant that certain products benefited from tariff-free access to the US market.
Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said the US decision “contradicts the $75 billion trade volume target that both governments have declared.”
