- Dec 29, 2008
- 19,928
- 4,896
- 280
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Thursday that Israel would abolish its free trade agreement with Turkey and impose a 100% tariff on imports from Turkey in retaliation for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's decision to halt exports to Israel.
Smotrich submitted the plan for cabinet approval, including the abolition of the Israel-Turkey Free Trade Agreement, signed in 1996.
Smotrich submitted the plan for cabinet approval, including the abolition of the Israel-Turkey Free Trade Agreement, signed in 1996.
The FTA was expanded in 2000 to include all industrial goods, abolishing all duties and charges for importing them from Turkey.
By 2007, the FTA had been expanded further to cover a significant amount of agricultural products, including eggs, live plants, vegetables, dried tomatoes, coffee concentrates, various juices (orange, lemon, apple), beer, several types of nuts, and dried figs and apricots. The FTA reduced their tariffs to 0%.
The recent abolition of this agreement will mean that previous tariff rates will be reimposed, and a new 100% will be added on.
Smotrich clarified that these tariffs would remain in place as long as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains in power.
www.jpost.com
It does seem appropriate given Erdogan's recent lunacies, still it is sad; David ben Gurion studied law at a Turkish university and the Ottoman Turks, despite some discriminatory laws, did protect the early Jewish immigrants from Arab marauders.
Smotrich submitted the plan for cabinet approval, including the abolition of the Israel-Turkey Free Trade Agreement, signed in 1996.
Smotrich submitted the plan for cabinet approval, including the abolition of the Israel-Turkey Free Trade Agreement, signed in 1996.
The FTA was expanded in 2000 to include all industrial goods, abolishing all duties and charges for importing them from Turkey.
By 2007, the FTA had been expanded further to cover a significant amount of agricultural products, including eggs, live plants, vegetables, dried tomatoes, coffee concentrates, various juices (orange, lemon, apple), beer, several types of nuts, and dried figs and apricots. The FTA reduced their tariffs to 0%.
The recent abolition of this agreement will mean that previous tariff rates will be reimposed, and a new 100% will be added on.
Smotrich clarified that these tariffs would remain in place as long as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains in power.
Smotrich cancels free trade deal, imposes 100% import tariffs on Turkish goods as rift grows
"Raising the import tariff on Turkey is a suitable Zionist answer to Erdogan," Smotrich said. "For too many years, the State of Israel struggled with Erdogan's antisemitism. Not on my shift!"
www.jpost.com
It does seem appropriate given Erdogan's recent lunacies, still it is sad; David ben Gurion studied law at a Turkish university and the Ottoman Turks, despite some discriminatory laws, did protect the early Jewish immigrants from Arab marauders.
