Turkish traders answered Erdoğan’s call and suspended purchases of iPhones
As a row between NATO allies Ankara and Washington escalates, Turkey has geared up to boycott American electronic goods after Erdoğan’s call to the Turkish public to stop buying and importing U.S. products.
Turkish traders answered Erdoğan’s call and suspended purchases of iPhones at prominent trade centers in Istanbul such as the Doğubank commercial complex, Grand Bazaar, Tahtakale, Mahmutpaşa and Eminönü.
In Doğubank alone, three major importers have suspended purchasing $50 million worth of iPhone products.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday said that Turkey will boycott U.S.’s technology products amidst a row between the two diplomatic allies.
“We will boycott American electronic products,” Erdogan said, adding that Turkey would produce a better version of every product previously bought with foreign currencies and export them.
Qatar will make $15 billion of direct investment in Turkey, Qatar’s leader said on a visit to Ankara on Wednesday, said Turkey’s presidential spokesman."Qatar has pledged $15 billion of direct investments in Turkey," tweeted Ibrahim Kalın after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar's emir, in the capital Ankara.“Turkish-Qatari relations are based on solid foundations of true friendship and solidarity,” Kalin added.According to the Turkish presidential press office, Erdoğan and al-Thani also exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional developments during their three-hour meeting.In an interview Wednesday with Anadolu Agency, Qatar’s Ambassador to Turkey Salem bin Mubarak Al-Shafi said: “The state of Qatar is always proactive in supporting its Turkish brothers.”Video: Turkish President meets Qatari Emir in AnkaraAl-Thani’s visit, the diplomat said, “will serve to confirm the close links between the Qatari and Turkish people and their common positions vis-à-vis the many challenges they face.”He added: “Our strong relations with the Republic of Turkey enjoy a special status among our people.”Tweeting later on Wednesday, al-Thani said: "We are together with Turkey and our brothers there, who stand by Qatar and problems of the Ummah."Trade dispute with Turkey puts pressure on US stocksUS tariffs to remain even if pastor freed: WHAl-Thani said they have announced an investment project package worth $15 billion in Turkey which has a "productive, strong and solid economy".Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said his meeting with al-Thani was "very productive and positive".Erdoğan thanked the emir and Qatari people for standing with Turkey."Our relations with friendly and brotherly country Qatar will continue to strengthen in many areas," the president wrote on his Twitter account.
Qatar to make direct investment of $15B in Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday said that Turkey will boycott U.S.’s technology products amidst a row between the two diplomatic allies.Referring to the fluctuations of the exchange rate, he said that the necessary measures have been taken and delaying production, switching to foreign currency would mean giving into the enemy.During his speech, Erdoğan also accused the U.S. of using the economy as a weapon, saying, “As they couldn’t make us do what they wanted on the field, they don’t hesitate to use economy as a weapon.”“The U.S. has targeted not only Turkey but also many regions from China to Russia, and from Iran to Europe.”Reitarating the importance of converting their foreign exchange savings into liras, Erdoğan stated, “The best response would be converting dollars and save the honor of the Turkish lira.”Video: Erdoğan: Turkey will boycott US electronic productsCalling the latest financial pressures of Trump a “deep operation” Erdoğan said, “When we reach our targets in 2023, every Turkish citizen will be twice wealthy as they are now.”Stressing the importance of keeping a firm political stance, he said, “There is an open economic attack against Turkey. In the past, these kind of things were done more covertly and indirectlyThere are two things we can do: one is putting forth an economic and political stance.”“I am calling out to the business world. We will produce and export more. We will boycott U.S.’s electronic products,” Erdoğan conluded.Relations between Ankara and Washington have been rocky since the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Turkey’s interior and justice ministers last week after Ankara refused to release American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.Last Friday, President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Turkey.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his turn said Turkey would turn toward new markets, new partners and alternative financial tools.“If you pressure us through the dollar, we will look for other ways to carry out our works,” he said.Terming the recent U.S. tariffs on Turkey as an “economic war,” the Turkish president said: “We’ve seen your game and we challenge it.”The aim of the recent U.S. pressure is “to ensnare Turkey in every field from finance to politics,” the president noted.“We will not surrender,” Erdoğan asserted.Turkey takes high level security measures around US pastor Brunson’s houseTurkey-US relations: From visionary to myopicTurkey 'most suitable' for investment despite perception operations: FMErdoğan slams US for preferring terrorists as partner
Erdoğan says Turkey will boycott US electronic products
Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively, causing the lira to lose value against the dollar.
Turkey in its turn increased tariffs on several U.S. products, including alcohol, tobacco and cars, according to a new presidential decree published Wednesday in the official gazette.
Traders halt short and long term orders
A Turkish trader in Istanbul said, “Demands have stopped abruptly. Also in other cities merchants have started to cancel their iPhone contracts or orders.”
On the other hand, some importers are try to turn the sudden fall in the lira into an advantage by keeping their products in storage. Most imported goods, especially office supplies cannot be found in the markets because some of them plan to raise prices after the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice holiday in Turkey.
It is estimated that a total of $7 billion worth of Apple’s iPhone products have been sold in Turkey in 10 years by reaching over 10 million people.
Referring to U.S. sanctions, Erdoğan said on Tuesday, "If they have their iPhone, there is Samsung on the other side. We have Vestel, Venüs in our country.”
The White House on Wednesday said U.S. tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Turkey are "specific to national security".Speaking at a news conference, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said tariffs on Turkey would not be removed even if detained American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who is facing terrorism charges in Turkey, is released.“The tariffs that are in place on steel would not be removed with the release of pastor Brunson. The tariffs are specific to national security," she said.The U.S will consider the removal of the sanctions that have been placed on Turkey and are "specific to pastor Brunson and others" when the aforesaid people are released, Sanders added.Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on two government ministers for not releasing American pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.Last Friday President Donald Trump ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports.Turning to U.S. reaction against Turkey's increasing tariffs on American products, Sanders said, “the tariffs from Turkey are certainly regrettable, and a step in the wrong direction."The tariffs that the United States placed on Turkey were out of national security interest. Theirs are out of retaliation," she added.Turkey has increased tariffs on several U.S. products, including alcohol, tobacco and cars, according to a new presidential decree published Wednesday in the official gazette.*Michael Hernandez in Washington contributed to this story
US tariffs to remain even if pastor freed: WH
A former French diplomat has slammed U.S. President Donald Trump for his remarks targeting Turkey’s economy, saying he cannot apply unilateral measures, pressure and sanctions against a key NATO ally.Marc Finaud, Senior Program Advisor at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, made the remarks Wednesday while speaking to an Anadolu Agency correspondent in Geneva."It's a quite unfortunate decision that increases tensions in the region, which doesn't need this kind of escalation. And if there are trade problems, which are sometimes legitimate, then they could be settled in a multilateral context within a world trade organization, but not by unilateral measures, pressure and sanctions against a very key, important ally," said Finaud about Trump's Twitter posts last week.Finaud also slammed Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs against Turkey as Trump's approach in this field is based on unilateralism, the use of force, pressure and sanctions instead of working together to find solutions.On Aug. 10, Trump ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively.Finaud emphasized that Turkey, Russia, China and key actors in Europe should act together against the Trump administration."Work together as united as possible among the Europeans with Turkey, Russia, China and all key actors to convince the Trump administration that it is not even in the U.S.’ interest to act the way it does," he added.Separately, Finaud said Trump's unilateral sanctions against Iran will harm especially the U.S. and European economies.He said Russian and Chinese firms may benefit from European firms' withdrawal from Iran."The Iran sanctions have officially been cast. These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level. Anyone doing business with Iran will not be doing business with the United States. I am asking for world peace, nothing less!" Trump tweeted on Aug. 7.In addition, Finaud said there can be no military solution to the Syrian conflict and the problem there had become international as he called on the international community to support the UN's efforts to find a peaceful and political solution. Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity. This led to a military conflict between Syrian opposition groups and the regime over the war-torn country’s territory. Iran has been supporting the Assad regime during the war while Russia intervened in September 2015. Peace talks were launched in Geneva in 2012 aimed at finding a political solution to the conflict while talks in the Kazakh capital Astana began in 2017 to discuss a cease-fire that has been fragile so far. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict mainly by regime airstrikes targeting opposition-held areas while millions more have been displaced. During the conflict, the Assad regime has been accused many times by international actors of targeting Syrian civilians with chemical weapons.
Ex-French diplomat slams Trump's Turkey policy