Turkey Stays Optimistic Amid Global Tariff Hikes, Erdogan Reassures Nation

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan isn’t sweating the new tariffs from the U.S. President Donald Trump, saying Turkey’s trade, production, and exports should hold up just fine. Starting Wednesday, the U.S. slapped a 10% tariff on Turkish goods, a light tap compared to the much steeper rates some other countries are facing.

Speaking to lawmakers from his AK Party, Erdogan sounded upbeat. He pointed out that Turkey’s got a solid economic plan in place, which he believes will keep the country on track even with all the uncertainty swirling around the world. “Things might be shaky globally, but Turkey’s got a strong roadmap,” he said, adding that he expects the country to come out ahead of others in the coming years. With the U.S. putting Turkey in the “low-tariff” club, it might even pick up some advantages as global trade shifts.

The U.S. tariffs differ depending on the country, some are getting hit with rates as high as 104% on certain products. Turkey’s 10% feels pretty doable, and experts think the country can lean on its manufacturing strength and trade deals to soften the blow. Beyond the U.S. and the European Union, Turkey has free trade agreements with 54 countries, covering 68% of its exports. Plus, its customs union with the EU, where it sent 108.7 billion USD worth of goods last year, gives it a solid fallback.

Erdogan’s team is already working to get that 10% tariff scrapped, with Trade Minister Omer Bolat pointing out that the U.S. made 2.4 billion USD more from Turkey than Turkey did from the U.S. in 2024. They’re also hoping manufacturers from places like China, which face much higher tariffs, might move shop to Turkey, giving its economy a boost.