Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) continues its “TİM Export Talks” online panels organized with ambassadors with the aim of drawing the direction of trade during and after the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) process.
The third of the panel series, “What opportunities are there for exporters in the USA after Covid-19?” with the participation of TİM President İsmail Gülle and Turkey’s Ambassador to Washington Serdar Kılıç. It was held live on TİM’s social media accounts with the title.
The panel evaluated the measures taken in the USA during the Covid-19 period, the situation of the US economy after the epidemic, developments in the foreign trade of the two countries and opportunities for the future period.
In his speech at the panel, TİM President İsmail Gülle stated that Turkey showed that it is an important supplier and a generous nation by providing medical supplies to the USA in its fight against coronavirus.
Gülle said, “We must maintain this atmosphere that we have created with the help of masks for the USA. In this way, I believe that positive steps will be taken regarding our target of 100 billion dollars in bilateral trade with the USA. We need to increase our share of US imports to 1 percent. We will reach our 100 billion dollar trade target after the virus, with the efforts of our exporters.” “We can even reach 200 billion dollars.” he said.
“We saw that we could not get enough share from the US market”
Stating that bilateral trade, which was 16.1 billion dollars in 2010, reached 19.1 billion dollars last year, Gülle said:
“In the same period, our exports to the USA increased by 115 percent in a very short time, from 3.8 billion dollars to 8 billion dollars. In addition to the increase in our exports to the USA in the last 10 years, there has been an increase in bilateral trade due to the decrease in our foreign trade deficit. rate was 18.4 percent. However, Turkey’s share in US imports reached 0.5 percent. Of course, this rate is not an acceptable figure in the trade of two countries in the top 20 economies, but they have a deep-rooted trade history. This distance that Turkey and the USA have covered in a very short time is very meaningful and important.
Within the framework of our analysis, we saw that although our country has a high competitiveness in many products in the automotive, chemicals, electrical-electronics, fresh fruit, vegetable and grain sectors, we cannot get a sufficient share from the US market. “In order to increase our market share in the USA, as Turkey, we first need to gain space in the top 50 products that have the most important place in US imports.”
“Turkey’s mask aid was on the agenda in the US media
Turkey’s Ambassador to Washington, Serdar Kılıç, stated that Turkey became a hot topic in the US media after the mask aid, and said, “We will ensure that this atmosphere continues. During this period, we are taking all steps to support the perception of Made in Turkey. Turkish associations are also distributing masks to the public. From now on, Turkey will provide 100 thousand masks.” “If he sends a mask, I will deliver it with my own hands and take the US press there.” he said.
Kılıç emphasized that Turkish exporters achieved a significant success in exports to the USA by running a steeplechase last year, despite all the difficulties, and said:
“We need to make a structural change in our perspective on the USA. There is no USA there. Each state in the USA needs to be evaluated separately. Exporters should perhaps have an office on the West Coast. Our exporters should create their own structure in terms of the domestic supply of the USA. , it should have warehouses in several places. This is the best time to buy a company in the USA.
Very serious work is required for Turkey to assume the role of China in the supply chain. It is believed that the USA will make China pay a price due to the coronavirus. This could create an opportunity either for us or for someone else. The best opportunity in the post-virus recovery will be the USA. “Therefore, we need to develop a strategy by looking at what the USA is making China do, what it is buying from China, what we can do, and what incentives can be given for this.”
