Industry leaders in Türkiye’s apparel and textile sector are raising the alarm that trade barriers, financing gaps and outdated EU trade rules could sharply slow Turkey’s apparel exports unless urgent structural reforms are implemented, according to a statement released at the Istanbul Ready-to-Wear & Fashion Fair (IFCO).
Representatives from key industry bodies, including exporters’ associations and business federations, warned that the current policy framework is undermining the competitiveness of Turkish clothing producers and risking further market share losses in core export markets.
A central concern highlighted by industry leaders is the limitations of the Turkey-EU Customs Union, which has governed trade between the two partners for almost three decades.
Under the existing arrangement, Turkey applies the EU’s common external tariff and commercial policy, yet has no formal vote or say in setting those rules — a dynamic that Turkish exporters argue places them at a competitive disadvantage.
Businesses point out that when the EU signs free trade agreements with other countries, Turkish exporters often lose out: goods from third countries can enter Turkey tariff-free, while Turkish exports do not automatically receive reciprocal market access. This asymmetry, industry experts say, amounts to an “invisible barrier” to growth.
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These structural issues compound mounting pressures facing the sector- Loss of EU market share : Turkish textile and clothing exports continue to shrink in some segments like imports from China and Bangladesh surge, eroding Turkey’s traditional dominance in European markets.
Rising production costs: Global competitiveness has been undermined by higher raw material and labor costs, prompting some manufacturers to relocate production abroad to maintain price competitiveness.
Job losses and firm closures: The sector has experienced substantial contraction, with hundreds of thousands of jobs lost and companies seeking protection or shutting down entirely as profits and export orders decline.
Industry leaders argue that without policy action, these trends could deepen, with projections showing exports potentially continuing to fall and jobs being shed across manufacturing hubs.
At IFCO and related industry gatherings, apparel exporters have called for a set of targeted reforms- Modernizing the customs union with the EU to include services, agriculture and digital trade moving beyond the current framework focused on industrial goods.
Improved trade facilitation and logistics integration to reduce border delays and documentation costs that disadvantage Turkish exporters compared to EU competitors.
Some industry associations are already working with the EU on initiatives that could ease transition into eco-friendly production, digitalization, and sustainability compliance — seen as essential for maintaining export relevance under emerging European “green deal” standards.
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Despite mounting challenges, Turkey remains one of the world’s leading textile and apparel exporters. Official data shows the sector recorded billions in exports last year, sustained by strong shipments to multiple regions including the European Union and Africa.
However, apparel manufacturers and trade advocates stress that reforms are no longer optional if Türkiye wants to defend its global position. “We risk retreating from key markets unless we update policies that reflect modern trade realities,” one industry executive said.
The call for reform reflects broader concerns about global competitiveness, technological shifts and rising non-tariff barriers — issues that policymakers and business leaders say must be tackled in tandem to secure the future of one of the country’s most historically significant sectors.
