Türkiye and Maldives implement preferential trade rules

Türkiye and the Maldives have entered a new era of preferential trade following the implementation of new regulations regarding rules of origin. The regulation, issued by the Turkish Ministry of Trade, establishes the procedures for determining the preferential origin of goods under the Preferential Trade Agreement signed on November 4, 2024.

To benefit from preferential trade terms, products must meet specific origin requirements. This includes goods wholly obtained in one of the countries, as well as products containing non-originating inputs that undergo sufficient processing or labor. The regulation provides detailed classifications for products considered ‘wholly obtained,’ ranging from agricultural and animal products to fishery and mineral products.

A 15 percent tolerance threshold has been established, allowing for the use of non-originating inputs up to 15 percent of a product’s net weight or factory exit price in certain categories. However, simple operations such as packaging, labeling, cleaning, or basic assembly are insufficient to confer origin status.

The primary instrument for proving origin in this trade relationship will be the EUR.1 Movement Certificate. For goods to qualify for preferential treatment, the EUR.1 document must be presented during import, and certificates issued in Türkiye must be prepared in English.