Turkey imposes duties on imports of a wide variety of manufactured goods – from automobiles to electronics – to protect domestic manufacturers from foreign competition amid an unprecedented economic crisis due to the coronavirus. Additional duties range from 2.3% to 45% on products such as chemicals, paper, machinery, cosmetics, textiles, wood products, furniture, shoes and more. They will operate until September 30.

The measures are among the largest protectionist responses to the growing crisis in the world. Germany, for example, has strengthened the protection of companies against foreign takeovers, Russia has restricted wheat supplies, and the US wants to ban exports of supplies needed to combat the virus.

Turkey faces an extremely difficult recession. The country opposes the complete blockade of the economy even after it has become one of the outbreaks of the coronavirus. There are 90,980 confirmed cases, with 2,140 dead.

Turkey is trying to protect its industrial producers from imports as they struggle with more competition and dwindling customers at a time when demand is shrinking significantly due to the pandemic.

Motor vehicle production in Turkey has already fallen by 22% in March from a year earlier, with exports falling by 30%. Consumer confidence has dropped to its lowest level since the 2008 global financial crisis.