Turkish Delegation Meets U.S. Officials to Address New Reciprocal Tariff Policies and Revive $100 Billion Trade Goal

A Turkish trade delegation visited Washington, DC on May 22 to engage in high-level discussions with U.S. officials about bilateral trade relations and the implications of the new reciprocal tariff policies introduced by the Trump administration, according to a statement released Monday by Türkiye’s Trade Ministry.

The visit came on the heels of an online meeting in April between Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer.

Trump’s 10% Baseline Tariff Spurs Diplomatic Push

Earlier in April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating minimum reciprocal tariffs of 10% on imports from all countries. Some nations—such as Canada, Mexico, China, and EU members—face even higher rates. Türkiye is among those currently subject to the 10% baseline tariff.

To address the potential fallout and seek strategic alignment, Deputy Trade Minister Murat Tuzcu led the Turkish delegation in talks with U.S. Deputy Trade Representative Bryant Trick and other key officials.

Focus on Trade Volume, New Policy Coordination

The ministry noted that discussions centered on:

• The global consequences of the U.S. reciprocity-based trade policy

• Policy coordination steps to mitigate impacts and maintain strong bilateral ties

• Ways to revitalize momentum in Türkiye-U.S. trade, especially in light of the long-standing $100 billion trade volume target

That ambitious target was set during the previous Trump presidency in 2019 after an agreement between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Trump. As of 2024, bilateral trade between the two countries stood at approximately $32 billion.

Expanding Cooperation in Innovation and Defense

According to the ministry, both sides reaffirmed that Türkiye and the U.S. share significant mutual trade and investment potential across a wide array of sectors, with particular focus on:

• High-tech industries

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Advanced manufacturing

• Cybersecurity and innovation

“Defense and energy sectors are also among the most dynamic areas of cooperation,” the ministry emphasized.

The Turkish side expressed optimism that, despite trade tensions and evolving tariff structures, strategic collaboration can deepen, especially in sectors tied to national security and future technologies.