The World Trade Organization (WTO) governs the global economy. Turkey, subject to WTO mandates, must also follow the rules set forth by the EU. These rules aim to encourage nations to abandon isolationism and assimilate economically with neighboring states. However, feelings of nationalism remain prevalent in Turkish society posing difficulties when implementing WTO and EU initiatives, potentially aggravating foreign trade relations. Having mastered the functions of Foreign Trade Rules, ACTECON offers preventive services for its customers, extending a guiding hand in gaining competitive superiority through various methods such as diversification of production/supply functions between countries.

 

Anti-dumping (back)

“Anti-dumping rules, also dubbed as “Prevention of Unfair Competition in Imports”, are enforced by the Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade, Directorate General for Imports, Department of Dumping and Subsidy Investigation (DTM) in Turkey. DTM carries out investigations, through investigating the presence of dumped imports and potential injury caused by such imports to the domestic industry.

ACTECON also pursues Anti-dumping Audits and Compliance Programs providing consultancy services in this field, weighing and then minimizing the trade risks of its customers.

ACTECON currently represents local and foreign producers, exporters and importers in anti-dumping investigations and boasts to having a complete range of human resources and technical means, at home and abroad, in order to fulfill its tasks in an efficient manner. ACTECON offers a comprehensive range of services in legislative, accounting, and consultancy fields helping firms in a successful and cost-effective way, when they become parties to a potential anti-dumping investigation.

Thanks to its connections in Washington DC, Brussels and Beijing, ACTECON has participated in numerous anti-dumping investigations, representing large-scale producers and pursuing Compliance Programs. ACTECON has recently represented manufacturers located in PRC in various investigations (i.e. automobile tires, color TV, tire chains, zippers, woven fabrics, air conditioners, different types of yarns).

Safeguards (back)

“When Turkish firms attempt to take steps against imports that negatively affects domestic producers, it is usually too late to recover losses. However, if assessment of annual import data proves that precautions must be taken, then future substantial losses may be prevented.

At this stage, different mechanisms must be enacted and the concerned authorities must be alerted about the risks to local industry. ACTECON offers consultancy services for the issue of economic reports meant to discover the course of the import business, advising whether supervision is necessary by measuring the extent of the losses to the relevant industrial branch. ACTECON also fulfills these applications for its customers.

Parallel Trade and Rules of Origin (back)

Numerous companies, those engaged in international trade, are concerned about parallel trading. However, assertions that these practices violate competition regulations are misguided. Parallel trading is encouraged under applicable legislation for its competitive nature because it skillfully eliminates absolute monopoly positions, provided that certain conditions are met. Origin deviation is usually perceived as a method resorted to when various measures taken against imports are found to be ineffective. ACTECON offers services in strategy setting, consultancy, and review and application fields in regards to Customs Valuation Treaty, rules of origin and traffic deviations under the obligations of Turkey sourcing from the WTO, the EU and bilateral treaties signed with third parties.

WTO Rules and Regional Legislation Tracking (back)

ACTECON prepares assessment reports in line with the progress of World Trade Organization negotiations which may be of use to enterprises and sector players when taking positions in the face of progress. ACTECON also opines on the later stages of discussions.

ACTECON keeps an eye on the progress of the Russian Federation, Turkic republics, Middle East and North Africa regions with respect to foreign trade rules, customs legislation and disputes, intellectual property rights, standardization regimes, industrial legislation and competition rules. ACTECON offers consultancy support so as to help local and foreign companies set their strategies in the fields of specialization. It maintains coordination between its customers and civil administrations and agencies so as to promote collaborations and offer effective solution in disputes. In addition, ACTECON, thanks to its partnership in China, prepares economic reports on the progress of target sectors in the Chinese economy. ACTECON further provides consultancy services on possible two-way cooperation means between Turkey and China as well as on certain issues arising from threats attributable to foreign trading. ACTECON also offers representative services at the administrative level, cooperating with sister law firms in order to achieve an effective solution in local disputes.

EU Legislation Harmonization (back)

The road to EU membership appeals European investors and companies making them eager to invest in and pour capital into Turkey. Supported by the investment environment created under the Customs Union, many companies are on a roll of investments which are either direct or carried out together with local partnerships.
Under current circumstances, Turkey is now undergoing a legal harmonization process in order to fulfill its share of tasks towards joining the European Union. New and detailed laws are being enacted in virtually every field, based on the full membership negotiations.

ACTECON offers consultancy services in EU legislation harmonization process that will have a determinant factor on the performance in Turkish and EU business circles.

In this respect, via its representative office in Brussels, ACTECON provides the following services to private sector or NGOs in order to determine EU Law services that can be necessary according to the calendar of full membership negotiations and to ensure competitive advantages created by early access to the information:

 

• Analysis of the legislation in the harmonization process to the EU legislation;
• Sector specific Regulatory Impact Analysis in relation to the harmonization;
• Consultancy services for projects and applications which allow EU funds to be made available to Turkish enterprises;
• Strategy making for firms in line with the harmonization roadmap;
• Applications to the Commission, the Court of Justice, OLAF and other EU institutions.
• Lobbying activities and informative studies in line with the industrial needs under the EU and Turkish laws and regulations.