Turkey Curbs Chinese E-Commerce: Shoes, Toys, Leather

Turkey has introduced new Turkey import restrictions targeting select goods shipped by Chinese e-commerce platforms, citing concerns over product safety compliance. The Ministry of Trade announced that, beginning October 20, shoes, toys, and leather products identified as high-risk may no longer enter the Turkish market via postal or courier channels under simplified customs procedures. The measure is expected to directly affect platforms such as Temu, AliExpress, and Shein.

According to a notice from the Ministry of Trade, joint spot checks by the Directorate General for Product Safety and Consumer Protection and the Directorate General for Market Surveillance found extensive non-compliance among sampled goods. Of 182 Chinese-origin items inspected, 148—approximately 81%—failed to meet safety standards.

Laboratory testing indicated excessive levels of hazardous substances, including phthalates, lead, cadmium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Several substances exceeded legal thresholds by a wide margin and carry potential carcinogenic risks. The ministry stated that the policy aims to safeguard public health and ensure consumers have access to safe products, adding that market surveillance and enforcement would continue to be intensified.

Concerns over both the safety of imported merchandise and market order have persisted within Turkish manufacturing. In August, the Turkish Footwear Industrialists Association (TASD) reported that its laboratory tests detected carcinogens in roughly 50% of Chinese footwear imported through Temu. TASD estimates that Temu’s footwear shipments to Turkey total about $200 million annually, representing roughly eight million pairs.

Industry groups have welcomed the new rules, arguing they will ease pressure from unfair competition on domestic producers. TASD also notes that an estimated 40% of footwear in the marketplace is counterfeit, contributing to annual losses of approximately $1 billion in unpaid taxes and social insurance.

The latest decision forms part of a broader tightening of oversight on Chinese e-commerce platforms. In August 2024, Turkey lowered the duty-free threshold for e-commerce imports from €150 (about $174) to €30, a calculation that includes the order value and shipping costs, in an effort to curb the inflow of ultra-low-priced goods.

Separately, the Ministry of Trade has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into synthetic or man-made staple fiber fabrics originating from the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Egypt, covering $101 million in trade. The official notice indicated concern that such exports may be used to circumvent existing anti-dumping measures applied to Chinese-origin products.

Analysts expect heightened scrutiny as the presence of Chinese e-commerce platforms grows in Turkey. The latest steps underscore Ankara’s commitment to product safety compliance and signal a policy tilt toward stricter market controls and enhanced domestic industry protection.

As Turkey sharpens product safety compliance and expands Turkey import restrictions, cross-border sellers should reassess testing, labeling, and customs strategies for sensitive categories. If you need a compliant routing plan into Turkey or alternative markets, Forest Shipping provides end-to-end freight forwarding and customs solutions—from supplier pickup and accredited lab testing coordination to DDP/DDU options and last-mile delivery—helping you ship confidently from China while meeting local requirements.