In a period where globalization dynamics are becoming more prominent, countries' trade openness is largely shaped by external debt, economic growth, and the financial transparency promoted by international standards. This study examines the effects of external debt and economic growth on Türkiye's trade openness for the 1989–2019 period. The stationarity of the series is tested using the ADF approach, while long-run relationships are analyzed through the ARDL Bounds Test and the error-correction model. The findings show that external debt and economic growth increase trade openness in the long run, and short-run shocks converge to equilibrium at a rate of 21%. The study provides a strong contribution to the literature by offering an original assessment of trade openness dynamics within the context of financial transparency and global accounting integration.