Between Ankara and Washington, Trade Reaches a New Milestone as Turkish-American Business Ties Expand

Trade between Türkiye and the United States reached $38.6 billion in 2025, according to Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, as officials from both countries discuss ways to expand commercial and investment ties. The figure was presented during business meetings in New York on September 23.

The United States is Türkiye’s second-largest export destination and fourth-largest import partner, according to Bolat. The relationship therefore extends across a broad range of goods and services rather than being concentrated in a single industry.

Turkish and American officials are also looking beyond existing trade flows. Bolat highlighted opportunities involving renewable energy, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, aerospace, automotive manufacturing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical devices.

Those sectors reflect the changing character of international trade. Traditional goods remain important, but investment increasingly moves toward industries involving advanced technology, specialized manufacturing and infrastructure.

For Turkish companies, access to the American market offers opportunities to expand exports and develop relationships with global customers. For American businesses, Türkiye provides an industrial base positioned between European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets.

The two countries have also discussed a much larger long-term trade ambition. Turkish officials have previously spoken about working toward $100 billion in annual trade and investment, although that remains a target rather than the current level of bilateral commerce.

The current trade figure provides a measurable starting point for that ambition. Moving from tens of billions of dollars toward substantially higher volumes would require greater investment, new supply-chain connections and expanded demand across multiple industries.

Business leaders meeting in New York have also focused on the role of investment alongside exports and imports. Mutual investment can create production facilities, technology partnerships and longer-term commercial relationships that go beyond individual shipments.

Türkiye’s trade relationship with the United States is also connected to broader international economic conditions. Exchange rates, energy costs, global demand and supply-chain changes can all influence the value and composition of bilateral trade from one year to another.

For now, the $38.6 billion figure provides a snapshot of the economic relationship in 2025, while the discussions taking place in 2026 point toward efforts to broaden it. From technology laboratories to factories and energy projects, the next stage will depend on how many of the proposed opportunities become actual investments and commercial agreements.

Image Disclaimer: The illustrations are AI-generated representations of international trade and business cooperation. They do not depict specific trade transactions or official negotiation scenes.

Sources: Anadolu Agency Turkish Ministry of Trade Türkiye Investment Office