The Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Türkiye are updating their Free Trade Agreement in order to implement the new provisions of the Regional Convention on Pan‑Euro‑Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin (PEM). The Parliament has ratified the Decision of the Joint Committee on the definition of the term “originating products” and on the methods of administrative cooperation applicable under the bilateral Agreement.

The update aims to facilitate bilateral trade, reduce administrative barriers, and apply the preferential rules of origin established by the PEM Convention. Implementing these rules will provide the business community with clear and predictable economic advantages and will help increase the flow of goods produced in the Republic of Moldova by allowing the use of Turkish raw materials and applying cumulation of origin within the Pan‑Euro‑Mediterranean system. This will enable economic operators to benefit from more flexible rules of origin, increase local value added, and improve the competitiveness of Moldovan products on external markets.

The new PEM rules, adopted in 2025 and entering into force on 1 January 2026, introduce simplified and modernised rules of origin, adapted to current realities of international trade and the needs of the business environment.

The Republic of Moldova acceded to the PEM Convention in 2015. The Convention was designed to replace numerous bilateral protocols on rules of origin by establishing common rules for all PEM member states. At present, the Convention has 25 contracting parties, including the European Union (27 states), the EFTA countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), North African countries, Türkiye, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova.

The Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and Türkiye was signed in 2014. According to the latest available data, in 2024 Türkiye ranked fourth among Moldova’s global trading partners, with total trade amounting to 890.4 million USD. Of this, 212.7 million USD represented exports and 677.7 million USD imports. The main exported products included sunflower seeds, iron and aluminium waste and scrap, pullovers and cardigans, as well as IT equipment. Key imported products included clothing accessories, petroleum oils, medicines, tomatoes, citrus fruits and jewellery.