TUNIS - The Tunisian-Algerian preferential trade agreement has come into force after completion by the Algerian side of measures to adopt the agreement which had been signed with Tunisia on December 4, 2008.
The agreement, which had already been adopted by Tunisia in March 2009, aims, according to the Tunisian Ministry of Trade and Handicrafts, to further develop economic and trade co-operation and pave the way for the establishment of a free- trade zone between the two countries.
The agreement compels the two sides to apply to traded goods of Tunisian or Algerian origin the principle of national treatment regarding taxes imposed in importing country.
Articles of the agreement provide, in particular, for a schedule for customs tariffs and tax exemptions according to lists set for exchanged products. Thus, concerning industrial products, the agreement provides for a total exemption of products of Algerian origin on the list and imported from Tunisia.
The same treatment is also reserved to products of Tunisian origin which are on the first list while a second list benefits from a 40% reduction. The Algerian side grants additional cuts on this list one year after the coming into effect of this agreement.
The document provides for carrying out negotiations to grant additional customs cuts for other Tunisian goods not concerned so far by tariff advantages.
Regarding agricultural produces, the agreement provides for a comparable total exemption of customs tariffs, taxes as part of the annual tariff contingents related to two lists of Tunisian and Algerian goods annexed to protocol n°2.
Review of liberalisation of trade of other agriculture and food industry products has been delayed for five years after the implementation of this agreement.
The document also stipulates in Article 6 that traded goods should be accompanied by a certificate of origin issued by the concerned authorities in the exporting country according to the protocol that defines products of origin and mechanisms of administrative co-operation annexed to the agreement.
Rules of origin applied as part of this agreement are the Euro-Mediterranean rules.
© Agence Tunis Afrique Presse 2010
