RESTRICTED WT/TPR/S/341 8 June 2016
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RESTRICTED WT/TPR/S/341 8 June 2016 (16-3107) Page: 1/150 Trade Policy Review Body TRADE POLICY REVIEW REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT TUNISIA This report, prepared for the third Trade Policy Review of Tunisia, has been drawn up by the WTO Secretariat on its own responsibility. The Secretariat has, as required by the Agreement establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), sought clarification from Tunisia on its trade policies and practices. Any technical questions arising from this report may be addressed to Mr Jacques Degbelo (022 739 5583); Ms Catherine Hennis-Pierre (022 739 5640); and Ms Alya Belkhodja (022 739 5162). Document WT/TPR/G/341 contains the policy statement submitted by Tunisia. Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the first session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Tunisia. This report was drafted in French. WT/TPR/S/341 • Tunisia - 2 - CONTENTS SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 7 1 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................ 11 1.1 Main features of the economy .................................................................................... 11 1.2 Recent economic developments .................................................................................. 16 1.3 Trade performance ................................................................................................... 20 1.4 Foreign direct investment .......................................................................................... 23 2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIME ............................................................................ 25 2.1 Overview ................................................................................................................. 25 2.2 Institutional framework ............................................................................................. 27 2.3 Trade policy objectives .............................................................................................. 28 2.4 Trade agreements and arrangements .......................................................................... 29 2.4.1 World Trade Organization (WTO) .............................................................................. 29 2.4.2 Agreements with the European countries and Turkey .................................................. 31 2.4.2.1 European Union .................................................................................................. 31 2.4.2.2 Agreement with EFTA .......................................................................................... 32 2.4.2.3 Agreement with Turkey ........................................................................................ 32 2.4.3 Trade relations with Arab countries .......................................................................... 32 2.5 Investment policy ..................................................................................................... 33 2.5.1 Business environment in Tunisia .............................................................................. 33 2.5.2 Investment restrictions and controls ......................................................................... 34 2.5.3 Investment incentives ............................................................................................ 36 2.5.4 Other tax and customs exemption schemes ............................................................... 36 2.5.5 International investment agreements and conventions ................................................ 37 3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE ........................................................ 38 3.1 Measures directly affecting imports ............................................................................. 38 3.1.1 Customs procedures ............................................................................................... 38 3.1.2 Customs levies ...................................................................................................... 41 3.1.2.1 Overview ........................................................................................................... 41 3.1.2.2 Most-favoured-nation applied tariff (MFN) ............................................................... 42 3.1.2.3 Other duties and charges levied solely on imports .................................................... 46 3.1.2.4 Bindings ............................................................................................................ 46 3.1.2.5 Internal duties and taxes ..................................................................................... 47 3.1.2.5.1 Value added tax (VAT) ...................................................................................... 47 3.1.2.5.2 Consumption tax and other internal duties and taxes ............................................. 48 3.1.2.5.3 Payment of 10% tax on account ......................................................................... 50 3.1.2.6 Duty and tax exemptions and concessions .............................................................. 50 3.1.2.7 Tariff preferences ................................................................................................ 51 3.1.3 Rules of origin ....................................................................................................... 52 3.1.4 Prohibitions, quantitative restrictions, licensing and prior authorization .......................... 54 3.1.5 Contingency measures ........................................................................................... 56 WT/TPR/S/341 • Tunisia - 3 - 3.1.5.1 Safeguard measures ............................................................................................ 56 3.1.5.2 Anti-dumping and countervailing measures ............................................................. 57 3.1.6 Standards and other technical regulations ................................................................. 58 3.1.6.1 Standardization, testing and certification ................................................................ 58 3.1.6.2 Technical controls ............................................................................................... 61 3.1.6.3 Sanitary, phytosanitary and environmental measures ............................................... 64 3.1.6.3.1 Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures ......................................................... 64 3.1.6.3.2 Environmental measures ................................................................................... 66 3.1.6.4 Marking, labelling and packaging ........................................................................... 68 3.2 Measures directly affecting exports ............................................................................. 68 3.2.1 Procedures ........................................................................................................... 68 3.2.2 Export taxes ......................................................................................................... 69 3.2.3 Export prohibitions, licences and controls .................................................................. 69 3.2.4 Export subsidies, promotion and support ................................................................... 70 3.2.4.1 Fiscal and foreign exchange incentives ................................................................... 70 3.2.4.2 Economic activity parks........................................................................................ 72 3.2.4.3 Other suspensive customs procedures .................................................................... 73 3.2.4.4 Financial aid and other export promotion measures .................................................. 75 3.2.4.5 Export insurance ................................................................................................. 76 3.3 Measures affecting production and trade ...................................................................... 77 3.3.1 State trading, State-owned enterprises and privatization ............................................. 77 3.3.2 Incentives ............................................................................................................ 81 3.3.3 Competition policy and price control ......................................................................... 82 3.3.3.1 The new competition law ...................................................................................... 83 3.3.3.2 Price controls ..................................................................................................... 84 3.3.4 Government procurement ....................................................................................... 86 3.3.5 Intellectual property rights ...................................................................................... 90 3.3.5.1 Industrial property rights ..................................................................................... 92 3.3.5.2 New plant varieties .............................................................................................. 94 3.3.5.3 Copyright and related rights ................................................................................. 94 4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR ..................................................................................... 96 4.1 Agriculture