While food fraud and adulteration are in the spotlight, AKP grants customs duty reduction for horse, donkey, and pork meat: 500 tons on the way!

The products granted customs reductions under the agreement do not include only horse, donkey, and pork meat. Exotic animals such as monkeys, guinea pigs, aquatic turtles, and whales, as well as fish species like sea bass, sea bream, tuna, and whiting, are also included in this scope. Furthermore, alcoholic beverages such as cognac, rakı, and tequila; agricultural products like fruits, vegetables, rice, wheat, and barley; live small and large livestock; and dairy products such as cheese and butter will also be eligible for duty-free import under the agreement.

BUĞRA GÖKCE ANNOUNCES

As reactions to the agreement grow, IPA President Buğra Gökçe stated in a post on the social media platform X that agricultural subsidies in Turkey are insufficient and that farmers are being crushed under costs. Gökçe emphasized that the agreement would put Turkish farmers in a difficult position, stressing that while Sudanese farmers would win, producers in Turkey would lose.

'WE HOPE THE TBMM WILL REJECT IT'

Gökçe included the following statements in her post: 

"While agricultural subsidies in Turkey are insufficient, our farmers are struggling to produce and are being crushed under costs, and local governments are working wholeheartedly to support our farmers, I view this agreement, which will deeply affect our agricultural production, with astonishment and surprise. We hope that the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) will reject this proposal and that policies to support our own farmers and producers will be implemented."

The products granted customs reductions under the agreement do not include only horse, donkey, and pork meat. Exotic animals such as monkeys, guinea pigs, aquatic turtles, and whales, as well as fish species like sea bass, sea bream, tuna, and whiting, are also included in this scope. Furthermore, alcoholic beverages such as cognac, rakı, and tequila; agricultural products like fruits, vegetables, rice, wheat, and barley; live small and large livestock; and dairy products such as cheese and butter will also be eligible for duty-free import under the agreement.

EFFECTS OF THE AGREEMENT

Gökce and many experts are drawing attention to the negative effects of imports on domestic producers. At a time when agricultural subsidies are insufficient, it is stated that imports from Sudan will weaken the competitiveness of local farmers and negatively affect production. The variety and quantity of imported products could create significant pressure on the local agricultural sector.

Whether the agreement will be accepted will become clear following the vote to be held in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). However, farmers' unions and local government representatives are already stating that this situation will cause great harm to agricultural production in Turkey.