ISTANBUL — The Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Türkiye and the Maldives has officially entered into force, Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade announced on Saturday.
The agreement was signed in Istanbul on November 4, 2024, by Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Maldivian Economic Development and Trade Minister Mohamed Saeed.
The agreement covers provisions on market access for goods, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, trade facilitation and rules of origin. Türkiye’s parliament approved the legislation allowing the agreement to be ratified on October 9, 2025, while the presidential ratification decision was published in the Official Gazette on December 19, 2025.
Tariff Advantages for 404 Turkish Products
Under the agreement, Turkish exporters will receive tariff advantages on 404 product categories, including iron and steel products, aluminum sheets, electrical components, refrigerators, air conditioners, televisions, marine vessels, furniture, plastic products, cosmetics, chocolate, confectionery, sausages, certain fish fillets and sauces.
The agreement provides tariff reductions or exemptions for the Maldives on 154 tariff lines, covering products such as fish used in the production of prepared or preserved fish, fishmeal, swordfish, cold-water shrimp and other shrimp varieties.
Duties Eliminated on 293 Tariff Lines
Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said the agreement would strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries and create new opportunities for exporters.
Bolat noted that the Maldives’ average customs duty of around 16% will be completely eliminated for Türkiye-origin products across 293 tariff lines. Existing duty exemptions covering another 111 tariff lines will also be maintained.
The new arrangements will provide Turkish manufacturers, producers and exporters with more favorable access to one of the strategically important markets in the Indian Ocean, according to Bolat.
Bilateral Trade Expected to Increase
Trade Minister Bolat said the agreement is expected to boost bilateral commerce, noting that Türkiye-Maldives trade reached approximately $69 million last year.
He said the new tariff advantages would help raise trade to higher levels in the coming period by opening additional opportunities for Turkish exporters.
The agreement is part of Türkiye’s broader strategy of expanding export markets through free and preferential trade agreements, while diversifying production and exports and strengthening the country’s position in global value chains.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök