Israel’s Finance Ministry is proposing to impose a 100% tariff on Turkish imports in response to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to halt trade with the Jewish State.

“Raising the duty rates on Turkish imports is a fair Zionistic answer to Erdogan,” stated Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on X.

 “His announcement to stop exports to Israel constitutes a declaration of an economic boycott and a crude violation of international trade agreements which Turkey committed to.”

According to the Finance Ministry’s resolution draft as seen by Arutz Sheva, all reduced customs rates applicable to goods imported under the 1996 Israel-Turkey Free Trade Agreement will be abolished.  This paves the way for the government to levy a tariff at a rate of 100% of the product’s value in addition to the current customs rate. The measure will be temporary until the end of Erdogan’s presidential term.

In April, Turkey began limiting exports of 54 types of products to Israel, including aluminum, steel, construction products, and chemical fertilizers. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, bilateral trade between the two countries in 2023 amounted to $6.8 billion, with Turkish exports comprising 76% of the total amount.