ITA Ensures Streamlined Import Licensing Procedures for Distilled Spirits in Turkey
June 7, 2013
(ITA)
The Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) helped the
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) overcome an import
licensing barrier that harmed association members’ operations in Turkey’s
distilled spirits market.
Why it Matters
If the United States had not acted to ensure that Turkey’s import licensing
requirements for distilled spirits were streamlined and applied in a transparent
manner, U.S. distilled spirits producers would continue to face substantial
delays in getting their goods into the Turkish market.
The Problem
In 2006, the distilled spirits industry approached ITA with concern about
Turkey’s import licensing regime for distilled spirits. Under this regime, all
imports of distilled spirits were required to be accompanied by two import
licenses, one from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and
another from the Tobacco, Tobacco Products and Alcoholic Beverages Market
Regulation Board (TAB). The requirements for obtaining these licenses were not
published and licensing procedures were not administered in a transparent or
predictable manner. As a result, there were wide variations in the certification
and procedural requirements that were applied to individual companies. Importers
of U.S. distilled spirits reported substantial delays, approximately 3 months,
in securing the required licenses. Turkey’s import licensing procedures were not
in line with their commitments set forth in the WTO Import Licensing Agreement.
The Solution
Leveraging a number of bilateral forums and the WTO Import Licensing Committee,
ITA brought to a forefront U.S. industry’s concerns about Turkey’s
non-transparent and duplicative import licensing requirements for distilled
spirits. This issue was raised by ITA officials in various meetings of the
U.S.-Turkey Economic Partnership Commission (EPC) and of the U.S.-Turkey Trade
and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). As a result, Turkey simplified and
streamlined its documentation requirements for such products, removing this
market access barrier for all U.S. spirits exporters to Turkey.
Working closely with U.S. companies, ITA creates, expands, and defends market
access for U.S. goods and services overseas through the Trade Agreements
Compliance Program. “We promote policy that develops a more favorable business
climate for U.S. companies in global markets; we employ commercial diplomacy to
resolve trade barriers; and we leverage our bilateral and multilateral trade
agreements to ensure our trading partners live up to their commitments so that
our businesses can compete on a level playing-field.” - Assistant Secretary for
Market Access and Compliance, Michael C. Camuñez.”
Welcome to the Exporting Source
Your one-stop resource for finding help to export to new customers, to learn about government export programs, to join export-promoting trade missions, to sign up for trade conferences and training, and to link to other exporting services. Whether you're an old hand at exporting or just getting started, the Exporting Source provides a place to locate foreign customers, export financing and foreign investment assistance.