Regarding the US Section 232 investigation, Veysel Yayan, general secretary of the Turkish Steel Producers Association (TCUD), stated that the US accounts for around 14 percent of Turkish steel exports, adding that, if the trade between the two countries stops, the Turkish steel industry will suffer great damage, according to a report in the Turkish daily Dunya. Mr. Yayan said that Turkey’s economy ministry is working on the issue and went on to say that it is not possible for Turkey to remain silent if Europe and other countries take similar measures against the US and all other countries.
The TCUD general secretary pointed out that in 2016 the US received a 13.6 percent share of Turkey's steel exports, while the share of the European Union member states (EU-28) amounted to 24 percent.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Steel Exporters Association (CIB) chairman Namık Ekinci stated that, if the US imposes measures on steel imports, the Turkish steel industry would receive a serious blow, adding that it is not be certain whether the economy ministry’s measures against the US would be effective.