On May 2, 2024, the Ministry of Trade of Türkiye announced on its official X account that Türkiye implements complete export and import restriction against Israel effective immediately. This decision was made following the export restriction imposed on April 9, 2024 by Türkiye against Israel targeting 54 product groups, such as electric panels, aluminum wires, cement, sulfur, ceramics, marble, varnishes, and mineral fertilizers. The announcement of the Ministry of Trade can be reviewed on the official X account
The introduction of these restrictions against Israel marks the first-ever comprehensive trade sanctions Türkiye has imposed against another country due to political concerns that are not directly related to Türkiye’s foreign affairs policy and security of its country borders. To offer a complete perspective on the Turkish trade sanctions regime, until now, Türkiye has rarely utilized sanctions as a foreign policy tool and has rarely adopted sanctions beyond the scope of UN Security Council Regulations.
The Ministry of Trade of Türkiye affirmed that restrictions would remain in place until Israel declares an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, allowing sufficient and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Our US team is also considering possible implications under US antiboycott laws.
