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Tunisia
The EU is Tunisia's first trading partner, accounting in 2008 for 64.5% of Tunisian imports and 72.1% of Tunisian exports: exports from Tunisia have risen swiftly in recent years until 2008, registering a decrease by -18% of imports and by -9.7% of exports. Tunisia was the first Mediterranean country to sign an Association Agreement fr with the EU, in July 1995, although even before the date of entry into force, Tunisia started dismantling tariffs on bilateral EU trade. Tunisia finalised the tariffs dismantling for industrial products in 2008 and therefore was the 1st Mediterranean country to enter in a free trade area with EU. In December 2009, the EU signed a bilateral protocol with Tunisia on the establishment of a dispute settlement mechanism fr.
Tunisia is one of the EU’s most established trading partners in the Mediterranean region (EU's 31th largest trading partner)
Trade in goods
- EU good exports to Tunisia 2009: €8.9 billion
- EU goods imports from Tunisia 2009: €7.9 billion
Tunisia's main exports to the EU in 2009 are manufactured products (75.6% of which 28,5% clothing and 27.5% machinery and transport equipment) energy (16.4%) and agricultural products (5.4%). Major imports from the EU are machinery and transport equipment (38%), textiles 13%), chemicals (9.9%) and energy (8.5%).
Trade in services
In 2008, Tunisian services exports to the World amount at €3.8 billion.
Foreign Direct Investment
In 2008 foreign direct investment in Tunisia amount to €20.8 billion. The EU is the largest foreign investor in the country (17% in 2004). Funds are concentrated on the development of the infrastructure network but also in the textiles and clothing sectors.
The new ENP framework
EU-Tunisia co-operation is an important part of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), on this basis EU-Tunisia ENP Action Plan fr was adopted in 2005 for five years. The Neighbourhood policy supports political and economic cooperation between Tunisia and the EU and is the framework for financial assistance from the EU to Tunisia. The European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument - ENPI - will be endowed with €11.9 billion for 2007-2013. For the period 2007-2010 the funds allocated by the National Indicative Programme (NIP) to the Tunisian government amounted to €300million. These funds will be used for projects that include measures to facilitate trade.
South-South integration
On 25 February 2004, Tunisia signed Agadir Agreement with Egypt, Morocco and Jordan. This committed all parties to removing substantially all tariffs on trade between them and to harmonising their legislation with regard to standards and customs procedures. It entered into force in July 2006. The effective implementation started in April 2007 with the creation of the Agadir Technical Unit in Amman. Tunisia signed a free trade agreement with Turkey and EFTA (both entered into force in July 2005), and a bilateral agreement with Libya (entered into force in 2002).
Tunisia has started to implement the new Pan-Euro-Mediterranean system of cumulation of origin. When applied, the system allow Tunisia to export goods made with components imported from elsewhere without losing preferential access to the EU market. This encourages productive industry and the creation of regional markets.
WTO
Tunisia has been a member of the WTO since 29 March 1995.
Bilateral relations
Trade relations with key trading partners
Facts, figures, latest developments and archives.
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