Turkey removes tariffs on ethyl alcohol imports

By Goksel Yildirim

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey removed tariffs on ethyl alcohol imports amid coronavirus pandemic, announcing the decision in the Official Gazette on Wednesday.

The move aims to support production of disinfectant and cologne, traditional ethanol-based scented disinfectant in Turkey.

The tariff on bulk ethyl alcohol imports was 10%.

On March 13, Turkey temporarily stopped requiring ethanol in gasoline to help boost disinfectant production.

Suspending ethanol’s use in gasoline will provide an additional 20,000 cubic meters for the production of disinfectants and colognes in the country, according to Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority.

After emerging in Wuhan, China last December, the coronavirus has spread to at least 170 countries and regions, according to the data compiled by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

Out of more than 423,000 confirmed cases worldwide, the death toll now nears 19,000, while over 108,000 have recovered.

The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic.