Cablegate: New Import Surveillance Measures

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ANKARA 000507

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EB AND EUR/SE
DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR FOR LERRION
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/DDEFALCO

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD TU
SUBJECT: New Import Surveillance Measures

1. (U) On December 31, 2003, the GOT published a series
of import surveillance and protection measures in the
State Gazette. The measures set import reference prices
for consumer goods ranging from kitchenware to
toothbrushes (see para 3 for summary). The Foreign
Trade Undersecretariat is now required trading companies
importing these goods at prices below this level to
apply for an import monitoring document. China and Iran
are specifically identified as targets of the
surveillance in two of cases. U.S. exports to Turkey
are not likely to be affected.

2. (SBU) In a January 8 meeting with Econoff and Econ
Specialist, Murat Yapici, Deputy Director General for
Imports at the Foreign Trade U/S, emphasized that these
are surveillance measures, not import restrictions, and
that licensing approval will be given automatically
within five days of application. He said that the
minimum prices triggering surveillance were so low that
he did not expect imports from anywhere other than China
to be affected by the measures.

Surveillance Measures
---------------------

3. (U) The Circulars on "Import surveillance and
protection measures" include the following:

-- 2003/15: Single-focused optical glasses imported
from China;

-- 2003/16: Polystyrene (Crystal & anti-chock) imported
from Iran;

-- 2003/17: Kitchen and household iron and steel
products; iron and steel fiber; iron and steel made
gloves, sponge, or other cleaning or shining tools,
spoons, folks, fish knives, ladles and similar kitchen
materials;

-- 2003/18: Taps (spigots): Imports with a unit price
equal to or lower than USD 10/kg will be subject to
surveillance;

-- 2003/19: Chests, suitcases, file folders, school
bags, glass covers, field glass protectors, camera
covers, and similar protective covers for other
optical, electronic products, guns, paper-covered suit
bags, isolated food bags, cosmetic bags, back-packs,
wallets, ID-holders, sports bags, and similar protective
shelves, and covers. Applies to products sold for USD
5/unit or below.

-- 2003/20: Tooth brushes with unit value $0.20, or
below.

-- 2003/21: An investigation on parts used for optical
frame production imported from China.

Comment
-------

4. (SBU) While Turkey set a new export record in 2003,
an even more rapid expansion in imports is likely to
push the 2004 trade deficit over the USD 20 billion
mark. Top trade officials have said that they will
continue to deploy anti-dumping measures to curb imports
in the coming year. Industry is particularly concerned
about a surge in imports to Turkey from the PRC, already
the target of about a quarter of Turkey's anti-dumping
measures, and the prospect of Chinese displacement of
Turkish exports in third country markets, especially
after textile and apparel quotas are lifted next
January. We expect Turkey to continue to make full use
of surveillance and anti-dumping investigations to blunt
imports in the near term.
Edelman

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