The Ministry of Trade has opened a tariff quota for corn imports, valid until June 30, to prevent supply security and price increase risks for corn production, limiting it to not exceed 1 million tons with a 5% tariff.

The decision for the implementation of the ‘Decision on the Application of Tariff Quotas for Corn Imports’ was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and published in the Official Gazette.

In a written statement by the Ministry of Trade on the matter, it was emphasized that, “Our Ministry of Trade is taking necessary measures in coordination with relevant institutions including the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, by evaluating producer and consumer welfare together, in order to guide the markets correctly, prevent speculative prices, ensure supply security in basic food products, and meet the country’s needs through promoting domestic production using all trade policy instruments. With the aim of ensuring supply security and price stability for corn, a key input for animal feed, an important production input for essential food items such as meat, and used in various other food products, a 5% tariff quota has been opened until June 30, 2025 for the portion that exceeds the consumption met by domestic corn production.”

It was also stated in the statement that, “After July 1, the customs duty for corn imports will be reimposed at 130%, and limited import with low customs duties for a small quantity of products is necessary to protect local producers and take into account the harvest season. This import practice will end by July 1, 2025, and the customs duty for corn imports will be applied at its original rate of 130%. In order to ensure fair utilization of the tariff quota, a maximum of 8,000 tons of imports can be made by a user at once, and a waiting period of 7 days will be required for subsequent imports.”