European Commission Directorate-General for Trade

Tunisia

Tunisia was the first Mediterranean country to sign an Association Agreement with the EU, in July 1995. Tunisia finalized the dismantling their tariffs for industrial products in 2008, thus making Tunisia the first Mediterranean country to enter in a free trade area with EU.

Trade picture

• Tunisia's exports to the EU are dominated by manufactured products (of which clothing and machinery and transport equipment are the most important exports), energy and agricultural products.
• Tunisia's imports from the EU are dominated by machinery and transport equipment, energy and chemicals.
• Flows of Foreign Direct Investment to Tunisia are concentrated on the development of the infrastructure network as well as of the textiles and clothing sectors.

EU and Tunisia

The European Neighbourhood Policy aims to support political and economic cooperation between Tunisia and EU and constitutes the framework for financial assistance from EU to Tunisia.

In February 2004 Tunisia signed the Agadir Agreement with Jordan, Morocco and Egypt. The Agadir Agreement entered into force in July 2006 and the implementation is ensured by the Agadir Technical Unit in Amman.

Tunisia has started to implement the new Pan-Euro-Mediterranean system of cumulation of origin. As it is applied, the system of cumulation of origin will allow Tunisia to export goods made with components imported from elsewhere without losing preferential access to the EU market.

This system will boost/encourage productive industry and facilitate the creation of regional markets in the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean area.

In December 2009, the EU signed a bilateral protocol with Tunisia on the establishment of a dispute settlement mechanism.

Tunisia in Euromed

On 25 February 2004, Tunisia signed Agadir Agreement with Egypt, Morocco and Jordan. This committed all parties to removing all tariffs on trade between them and to harmonizing their legislation with regard to standards and customs procedures.

The Agadir Agreement entered into force in July 2006. Its implementation is ensured by the Agadir Technical Unit in Amman.

Tunisia signed a free trade agreement with Turkey and EFTA that entered into force in July 2005. Tunisia has also signed a bilateral agreement with Libya that entered into force in 2002.

More information on the Euro-Mediterranean partnership

Trading with Tunisia

• Rules and requirements for trading with Tunisia
  • Importing into the EU from Tunisia
    • EU trade defence measures on imports from Tunisia
  • Exporting from the EU to Tunisia
    • Export rules on food and plant health
    • Trade defence measures in force in Tunisia
• The EU is present on the ground in Tunisia.
• Trade relations are part of the EU's overall political and economic relations with Tunisia.
• Tunisia is a member of the World Trade Organisation.
• Sustainable impact assessment of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area (EMFTA)