Tunisia

The Free Trade Agreement covers trade in industrial products, including fish and other marine products, and processed agricultural products. In addition, individual EFTA States (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) and Tunisia concluded bilateral agreements on basic agricultural products, which form part of the instruments creating the free trade area.

The main objective of the Agreement (Article 1) is to achieve the liberalisation of trade in goods in conformity with Article XXIV of the GATT 1994.

The Agreement also includes provisions relating to the elimination of other trade barriers as well as trade-related disciplines including rules of competition, state monopolies and subsidies. Moreover, the Agreement contains provisions on the protection of intellectual property, investment, services, current payments and capital movements, government procurement, economic co-operation and institutional and procedural matters. The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee which supervises its application and provides for binding arbitration.

The Agreement consists of ten Chapters, 46 Articles, six Annexes and one Record of Understanding. The Agreement covers the following main subjects:

• Trade in Goods
• Rules of Origin
• Trade in Services
• Investment/Establishment
• Protection of Intellectual Property (IPR)
• Government Procurement
• Competition
• Institutional Provisions
• Dispute Settlement
• Economic Co-Operation and Technical Assistance

Trade in Goods

Industrial Goods

The Agreement provides for effective market access for industrial goods in terms of tariffs and rules of origin, creating EU parity for EFTA exports to Tunisia. Since 1 July 2008, almost all industrial goods originating in the EFTA States enjoy duty free access into Tunisia (Article 6 and Annex IV). Tunisian exports into the EFTA States are duty-free since the entry into force of the Agreement.

Fish and marine products

The Agreement covers trade in all fish and other marine products (Article 4(1)(c) and Annex III). The EFTA States grant duty-free access on imports of all Tunisian fish products. As regards EFTA exports to Tunisia, the Agreement provides for the lowering of tariffs within quotas from the entry into force of the Agreement. Further reduction of duties on such products is subject to a review by the Parties, however a full elimination of customs duties on all fish and other marine products is foreseen to take place no later than 18 years after the entry into force of the Agreement.

Agricultural products

Trade in processed agricultural products is covered in a Protocol to the main Agreement (Article 4(1)(b) and Protocol A). In addition, trade in basic agricultural products is covered in three bilateral agreements negotiated separately between Iceland, Norway and Switzerland on the one hand and Tunisia on the other hand. These agreements, which form part of the instruments establishing the free trade area (Article 4(2)), provide for tariff concessions. Each agreement contains specific rules of origin, generally based on the “wholly-obtained” criteria.

Rules of Origin

The rules of origin for industrial goods (Article 5 and Protocol B) concerning the definition of the concept of originating products and the methods for administrative co-operation are based on the current Euro-Mediterranean (Euro-Med) model, maintaining the general structure and the substance of the European standard rules. The specific list rules (Annex II to Protocol B) are also based on the current Euro-Med model.

The Parties aim at achieving gradual liberalisation and the mutual opening of their markets for trade in services in accordance with the provisions of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Moreover, the EFTA States and Tunisia will enter into consultations if additional benefits are granted to a third party (Article 26).

Investment/Establishment

The Parties have agreed to create stable, favourable and transparent conditions for companies of the other Parties that are making or seeking to make investments in their territories. They grant each other’s investments full protection and security as well as fair and equitable treatment in accordance with international law (Articles 24 and 25).

The Agreement provides for unrestricted payments concerning “current transactions” and ensures that capital relating to direct investments can move freely, including repatriation and liquidation of benefits (Articles 27 and 28).

Protection of Intellectual Property (IPR)

The provisions on protection of intellectual property rights (Article 23 and Annex V IPR) cover inter alia, patents, trademarks, copyrights and geographical indications. They are based on the WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and provide for a high level of protection, taking into account the principles of most favoured nation treatment and of national treatment.

Government Procurement

The Parties aim at a reciprocal and gradual liberalisation of procurement contracts, to be implemented on the basis of decisions by the Joint Committee, which is set up under the Agreement. The Agreement opens up for negotiations with a view to extending possible future additional benefits granted to third parties by either the EFTA States or Tunisia (Article 30).

Competition

Agreements between, and abuses of dominant positions by, economic operators of the Parties are incompatible with the Agreement if they affect trade between the EFTA States and Tunisia. In such a case, a Party may bring the matter before the Joint Committee and, failing an agreement between the Parties concerned, may take appropriate measures (Article17).

Institutional Provisions

A Joint Committee composed of representatives of the EFTA States and Tunisia supervises and administers the application of the Agreement (Articles 34 and 35). The Parties may hold consultations and, failing an agreement, apply provisional measures (Articles 36 and 37).

Dispute Settlement

Tunisia or any EFTA State may refer a dispute relating to the interpretation of rights and obligations under the Agreement to binding arbitration if consultations do not lead to a settlement. The arbitral tribunal will settle the dispute in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement and the customary rules of interpretation of public international law (Article 38).

Economic Co-operation and Technical Assistance

The EFTA States commit themselves to engage in economic co-operation and to provide technical assistance to Tunisia in order to facilitate the implementation of the Agreement. Such co-operation and assistance include the enhancement of trading and investment opportunities and support to Tunisia's own efforts to achieve sustainable economic and social development. They will focus on sectors that face particular challenges as well as on sectors that will generate growth and employment (Articles 31 to 33).

Annexes, Protocols and Record of Understanding - English

Annexes, Protocoles et Protocole d'Entente - Français

For EFTA-Tunisia trade statistics, see EFTA Trade Statistics Tool