Turkish Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan's spokesman said on Wednesday he expected problems with the United States to be resolved but Washington must stop trying to influence Turkey's judiciary.
İbrahim Kalın stated that Turkey didn't want an economic war with the U.S., but that staying silent when it was being attacked was out of the question.
Ibrahim Kalın also told a news conference that Turkey would exercise its rights if the U.S. does not deliver F-35 jets to Ankara. The lira, which has rallied after hitting a record low of 7.24 to the dollar, would continue to recover, he said.
U.S President Donald Trump is facing an extreme global backlash after waging a war against the entire world and specifically Turkey by using economic sanctions as political leverage to administer pressure to get countries to comply with U.S interests.World leaders, including Germany, Pakistan and Russia, began to raise their voices against the Zionist- Evangelist terror of the U.S. right after Trump ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports.US sanctions hurting its own reputation: Turkish FMThe United States, the world's biggest steel importer, had also imposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum in March for imports from a variety of countries.Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.Erdoğan challenges USDubbing Trump’s economic sanctions as an economic war and calling it an operation against Turkey, Turkish President Erdoğan said, “We have seen your game, and we challenge you,” on Sunday.Following this, world leaders broke their silence and perceived that Trump’s moves would turn into an economic wave which would also affect them.“Germany wants an economically prosperous Turkey”Speaking at a news conference in Berlin on Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "Germany wants an economically prosperous Turkey. This is also in our interest."Merkel emphasized that destabilization of the Turkish economy would serve no one's interest.'Germany is Turkey's most important trading partner''Germany would like to see an economically prosperous Turkey'Meanwhile, Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy spokeswoman Beate Baron said "Germany is Turkey's most important trading partner, and the trade volume between the two countries is 37.7 billion euros ($43 billion)."“Turkey can succeed against external pressures”Iranian diplomats also slammed the U.S. decision to impose tariffs on Turkey.Bahram Qassemi, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's sanctions and said, “Turkey and the Turkish people can succeed against external pressures.”"The will of nations cannot be changed by bullying and threats," Qassemi told Iranian television, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the countries of the region.Iran slams Trump's tariffs decision targeting Turkey"We’ve stood with neighbors before, and will again now," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on his official Twitter account.Confident about the future of Turkish economyStressing their confidence about the future of Turkish economy, Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry in a statement said “Our country will continue to invest capital and take an active part in Turkey's economy”"Azerbaijan, as always, will continue to support Turkish people and the state in all areas," it added.Azerbaijan voices confidence in Turkey's economyOn Monday, Lebanese businesspeople have launched a solidarity campaign for the Turkish lira by offering discounts for customers making purchases in Turkish currencyExpressing its solidarity, Pakistan reiterated its strong support for Turkish people and nation on Monday.“The people and the government of Pakistan reiterate their strong support for the government and the people of Turkey in their quest for peace and prosperity, and as always, will continue to stand by them towards the achievement of these shared goals,” a statement by the Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.Italy expects financial market attackItaly's Prime Ministry Undersecretary Giancarlo Giorgetti expressed Italy’s concern and said his country could face an economic attack similar to Turkey in August. He stated that they were expecting a similar crisis by the end of August or beginning of September as market assaults were affected by small summer trading volumes.Italy expects economic attack similar to Turkey"The markets are populated by hungry speculative funds that choose their prey and pounce… In the summer the market volumes are small, you can lay the groundwork for aggressive initiatives against countries. Look at Turkey," Giorgetti added.
World leaders slam Trump’s sanctions, express support for Turkey
"There were no talks planned between President Erdoğan and President Donald Trump", Kalın added.
Kalın also said a news conference that Turkey will take a positive stance towards trading in national currencies to escape from U.S. dollar pressure.
Ibrahim Kalin also expressed Turkey's “deep disappointment” over the U.S. stance on the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson and said “If we are to mention any disappointment, we can say that Turkey is experiencing a deep disappointment in terms of its national interests,” to reporters at a weekly press briefing at the Presidential complex in capital Ankara.
Turkey will never avoid protecting Turkish firms from unfair treatment by the U.S., Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said Wednesday.Speaking at the Turkey-Africa trade and economic relations consultation meeting in capital Ankara, Pekcan said Turkey will continue to take necessary steps to counter the U.S. moves."We have doubled tariffs on 22 products coming from the U.S., responding to the recent U.S. sanctions with additional tariffs worth $533 million last night," the minister said. Group of Turkish NGOs voices support for governmentThe U.S. is an important trading partner of Turkey but it is not the only one; our country has several partners and alternative markets, Pekcan said.American President Donald Trump announced on Aug. 10 the U.S. was doubling aluminium and steel import tariffs on Turkey, fixing them at 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively.Turkey has increased tariffs on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars, according to a new presidential decree published early Wednesday in the official gazette.Turkey doesn't want economic war with US, but wont stay silent: presidential aidePekcan added trade and economy should not be affected by political reactions.She called for economic cooperations instead of a world with trade wars.She said increasing Turkish investments in Africa remains one of the priorities for the government."We see great potential in this field. We will continue our joint works on increasing economic prosperity and employment," Pekcan said.The Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum will be held in Istanbul on Oct. 10-11.Business community backs Turkish economyTurkish court rejects US pastor’s appeal for release for second time
Turkey's doubling tariffs on US products will amount to $533 mln
His remarks came after the White House spokeswoman expressed Washington’s “frustration” regarding the Brunson case.
Sarah Sanders said: “Certainly the President has a great deal of frustration on the fact that Pastor Brunson has not been released, as well as the fact that other U.S. citizens and employees of diplomatic facilities have not been released.
“And we’re going to continue to call on Turkey to do the right thing and release those individuals,” she added.
Criticizing the U.S. administration, Kalin said: “As they are taking relations with Turkey to a breaking point for one pastor, we have yet to see either the Obama or the Trump administration take any concrete steps towards Turkey’s rightful and urgent national security matters.”
The use of installments for credit card shopping and loans in Turkey will be governed by new regulations under a decree published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday.The term of installment payments for credit cards cannot exceed 12 months for purchases of goods and services, says the decree.For electronic appliances, the period is three months, as well as six months for expenditures on computers, travel, logistics, and accommodation, and nine months for spending on health, social services, and taxes.Banking watchdog puts new limits on FX swapsIn addition, purchases of telecommunications, alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, food, meals, fuel, jewelry, office equipment, gift cards, and expenses abroad cannot be split into installments.According to the Official Gazette, vehicle loans can last no longer than 48 months, consumer loans 36 months, and computer/cellphone loans six months.The regulation enters into force on Sept. 1 and is carried out by Turkey's Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency's (BDDK).On Aug. 2, the BDDK released draft proposals to support financial stability and macroeconomic equilibrium in Turkey.Turkey raises tariffs on US-origin productsThe proposals aim to encourage conscious consumption and cautious borrowing, the agency said.Mehmet Ali Akben, head of the BDDK, told Anadolu Agency: "The proposals aim to bring down inflation, the current deficit, imports and household indebtedness."
Turkey limits installment plans for credit cards, loans
Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions over the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who is under house arrest in Turkey over terrorism charges.
Brunson's charges include spying for the PKK -- listed as a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated coup attempt in Turkey of July 2016.