Turkiye expresses regret over anti-dumping probe into soda ash imports
Probe may undermine trade goals agreed by President Erdogan and PM Shehbaz, says official
January 09, 2026
Turkiye has expressed "sincere regret" over the initiation of an anti-dumping investigation by the National Tariff Commission (NTC) into the import of Disodium Carbonate (soda ash) from Turkiye and Kenya.
In a letter to the NTC, the commercial counsellor at the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad said that any groundless anti-dumping measure without sufficient justification will have detrimental effects on the target of $5 billion trade volume, which has been set by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
"NTC initiated an anti-dumping investigation of soda ash against Turkiye and Kenya on 18th July 2025, following the application of […] which are dominating the soda ash production in Pakistan," the official said.
Subsequently, NTC sent a questionnaire to be filled by the Turkish companies that produce and export soda ash to Pakistan, it said, adding that a delegation of the commission visited the Turkish companies for on-the-spot investigation at their offices and plants in December 2025.
In October 2025, the Turkish Embassy submitted the official views of the government of Turkiye to the NTC.
"Our document consists of Turkiye's views and assessments, as well as responses to the allegations made by Pakistani petitioners, who are legally supported by […]. The document also refers to relevant articles of the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (the Anti-Dumping Agreement)," read the letter.
The commercial counsellor added that the document also refers to relevant articles of "Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994" (Anti-Dumping Agreement or ADA).
"We again submit the mentioned document of Turkish official views as attached, remarking that our Office wouldn't like to go into technical details in this letter," read the letter.
"Honestly, our bilateral trade volume is not satisfying when compared to the very positive relations in politics and between our people arising from history," said the Turkish official.
The commercial counsellor further said that both countries are trying to increase bilateral trade and investment relations, adding: "As an indicator of this, we have started to work on expanding the scope of the Preferential Trade Agreement between the two countries; the first negotiation meeting will start in Islamabad this month inshallah."
"We have no doubt that there will be a fair evaluation. While taking a decision regarding this investigation, we believe that the commission will take into consideration the afore-said documents and inferences from its verification visit to Turkish companies," read the letter.
