The belt, the corridor, and roadblocks: locating the persisting trade deficit in Turkey-China economic relations

Tekdal V., Demir E.

TURKISH STUDIES, no.-, pp.1-25, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/14683849.2025.2497844
  • Journal Name: TURKISH STUDIES
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Historical Abstracts, Index Islamicus, Political Science Complete, Sociological abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-25
  • TED University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

China-Turkey trade results in a substantial trade deficit for Turkey. This article examines the trade deficit issue and aims to contribute in three ways. First, it illustrates that Turkey's trade deficit with China has a structural nature and is unlikely to be substantially reduced through policy initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative. Second, it argues that trade constitutes an increasingly contentious aspect of bilateral relations. Finally, it highlights an overestimation in China to-Turkey export data, showing that Turkey's imports from China, particularly in high-tech sectors, contain a significant proportion of ‘indirect’ imports from leading global companies.