Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

In his speech, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that selling goods to the US is no longer an alternative but a necessity, saying, “As the rules are being rewritten, we must be in the game, even ahead of it.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the rules of doing business in the world are being rewritten under the administration of US President Donald Trump, adding that supply chain consolidation, emphasis on local content in public procurement, and tariff risks in competition have become important topics in the new era.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that we have entered a period where it is necessary to be more planned, professional, and strategic in everything from production to marketing, logistics to finance. In this context, he emphasized that the $100 billion trade volume target between Türkiye and the US, set under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is not just a number.

Hisarcıklıoğlu conveyed that this is an expression of Türkiye’s determination to become a more visible and permanent actor in the global value chain, stating, “We are moving step by step toward this goal with the TOBB Trade Centers established through the strong cooperation between TOBB and our Ministry of Trade and its pioneering project, the Türkiye Trade Center (TTM) Chicago. TTM is not just a service point; it is the operational base of Türkiye’s commercial diplomacy in the United States. It is a platform that accelerates our companies’ entry into the market, reduces costs, and facilitates compliance.”

Explaining that the center has supported more than 500 Turkish companies in entering the US market, scaling up, and adapting to the field since its establishment, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they have built an end-to-end structure ranging from logistics to after-sales services, marketing to supply chain management, with nearly 100 members in 17 sectors.

- “Exporting to the US is an opportunity for every Turkish company.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that during the pandemic, they helped entrepreneurs establish companies and deliver goods without traveling to the US. He added that they overcame bottlenecks during the container crisis by providing appointment-based storage, loading, and unloading services.

Pointing out that they reduced vulnerability in supply risks with alternative routes and insurance arrangements, Hisarcıklıoğlu continued:

“TTM Chicago has now achieved a logistics and operational capacity that can serve not only in the state of Illinois, but in all port cities and strategic regions of the US. In addition to our main warehouse, we continue our operations with a structure that can provide door-to-door service in many states. This capacity is not only a logistical success, but also the real-world embodiment of Türkiye’s global trade vision.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the United States is strategically important not only because it is a large market but also because it is a game changer, stating that with a national income of approximately $29.2 trillion last year, it is the world’s largest center of consumption and innovation.

Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that U.S. imports also broke records during the same period, reaching a total of $4.1 trillion in goods and services, with goods imports alone reaching $3.3 trillion. “At a time when we face intense competition and challenges in our traditional markets, exporting to the U.S. is an unparalleled opportunity for every Turkish company. The US is a unique showcase for global brand awareness. There are scalable opportunities in many areas, particularly construction materials, home and lifestyle, food and agriculture, machinery, and the automotive supply industry.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that in the new era, it is necessary to consider exports and smart investments together, noting that establishing the final processing, assembly, after-sales, and warranty network locally both reduces compliance costs and ensures proximity to the customer.

- Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasizes key focus areas in the US market

Highlighting three key focus areas for the coming years, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated:

“Our focus areas are to accelerate technology and service exports as a separate growth channel, minimize delivery times and return costs with sector-focused trade centers and a multi-hub US network, and sustainably position more Turkish companies within the US. In this context, the Ministry of Trade’s Overseas Logistics Distribution Networks (YLDA) support is a critical lever.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the comprehensive support provided for overseas operations, ranging from personnel to warehousing, promotion to software and hardware, enables centers such as TTM to operate sustainably and scalably. He added that, thanks to the protocol signed with the Ministry in May 2025, they have diversified their warehousing activities at very affordable prices.

Pointing out that this cooperation has provided exporters with significant cost advantages both abroad and domestically, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

“Selling goods to the US is no longer an alternative, it is a necessity. As the rules are being rewritten, we must be in the game, even ahead of it. TTM Chicago will continue to be your bridge, but more companies need to cross that bridge in a more planned and faster manner.”

(A.A.)