In brief: At the 3rd EU-Türkiye High-Level Dialogue on Trade in Brussels on October 13, 2026, the EU and Türkiye announced the removal of an import-control barrier under Türkiye’s TAREKS system and confirmed they are moving ahead with implementing their Mutual Recognition Agreement on Authorised Economic Operators (AEO).
The talks were co-chaired by EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat. The two sides said bilateral goods trade reached €217.6 billion in 2025, making Türkiye the EU’s fifth-largest trading partner and over 4% of all EU goods trade, with services trade adding roughly €40 billion more. Under the AEO agreement, each side’s certified “trusted traders” are meant to clear the other’s customs faster, with lighter checks. Türkiye confirmed it has completed alignment to the new EU Machinery Regulation. The sides also reviewed unresolved market-access issues, including export taxes on hides, skins and wet-blue leather, textile import surveillance, alcoholic beverages, Türkiye’s access to the EU’s EPREL energy-labelling registry and CPNP, and batch releases for pharmaceuticals, plus cooperation on anti-circumvention of EU sanctions.
For importers and exporters moving goods under the EU-Türkiye Customs Union, the TAREKS barrier removal should ease one concrete friction point immediately, while the AEO agreement’s full benefit — fewer inspections and faster clearance for certified traders — depends on how quickly both sides finish implementing it. Businesses should watch for technical guidance on AEO verification at the border.
Source: European Commission, October 13, 2026.