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The Export Unit provides Tunisian Exporters to the US Market with a brief overview of the basic steps that need to be taken.
The Export Unit will focus on the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which allows duty-free entry of various Tunisian products to the U.S. market.
Under the GSP program Tunisian companies have the opportunity to export certain products to the US duty free. More than 4,650 products are eligible.
Potential Saving through GSP
2008 (Jan-August):
Tunisian exports to the U.S. of GSP-eligible goods totaled $126 million; only $109 million in goods entered duty-free (87%) Tunisian exports to the U.S. under GSP have included just 56 of the 3,400 eligible products.
GSP Utilization by Sector for 2007:
Eligibility
Three requirements need to be fulfilled in order for a product to qualify for duty free treatment under the GSP:
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It must be from a designated beneficiary country;
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It must be eligible for GSP treatment;
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It must meet the GSP rules of origin.
Generally, products defined as eligible under the GSP program comprise manufactures and semi-manufactures, jewelry, animal skin and various carpets, as well as certain agricultural, fishery, and primary industrial products. Also chemical products, marble and minerals are to be included.
Articles prohibited from GSP treatment on the other hand are the majority of textiles and clothing, f.i. such made with cotton or wool, manmade fiber, other vegetable fiber and leather products. Furthermore excluded are watches, certain footwear and handbags, luggage, flat goods not made of silk and work gloves. (Office of the United States Trade Representative, 2008; Sandler M.J., 2008)
How to find out about a product’s eligibility?
There are several ways. One of them is to search for the product in the “Eligible product” list which can be accessed from : http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Trade_Development/Preference_Programs/GSP/2007_GSP-Eligible_Products/asset_upload_file77_13431.pdf
A more convenient way is to visit the site http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/tariff_current.asp from the United States International Trade Commission, which contains an automatic function for investigation about the eligibility of a certain product.
 International Trade Basics for Companies Exporting to the United States
DOING BUSINESS WITH THE US: CAS DE L’HUILE D’OLIVE
DOING BUSINESS WITH THE USA: Une perspective Tunisienne
GSP presentation
TUNISIA /USA ECONOMIC RELATIONS
1. Listing of bilateral agreements:
v Framework Agreement of Economic and Technical Aid, dated March 26, 1957.
v Agreement Concerning the Guarantees Granted to Investments, dated March 19, 1959.
v Cultural Cooperation Agreement dated September 28, 1979.
v Non-double Taxation Agreement, dated June 17, 1985.
v Treaty Concerning the Reciprocal Encouragement and Protection of Investment, dated May 15, 1990.
v Scientific and Technological Agreement signed on June 22, 2004 in Tunis
v Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) signed in Washington on October 1, 2002 (on the sidelines of the 4th ministerial conference of USA-Maghreb Economic Partnership). On going negotiations
2. Size of U.S. Investments in Tunisia :
v U.S. investment in Tunisia stands at approximately $600 million since 1994.
v About 60 U.S. companies have direct investment in Tunisia. The majority are in the energy, IT manufacturing for export, telecommunications, and medical equipment supply sectors.
v U.S. companies currently employ approximately 12,000 Tunisians.
Trade between Tunisia and USA
1 – Tunisia Imports from USA
(In millions of U.S. dollars)
|
Month |
Imports 2007 |
Imports 2008 |
Imports 2009 |
|
January |
36.1 |
63.3 |
24.3 |
|
February |
30.6 |
49.2 |
23.6 |
|
March |
13.3 |
51.0 |
21.4 |
|
April |
17.5 |
22.8 |
28.2 |
|
May |
33.8 |
42.4 |
35.7 |
|
June |
19.0 |
52.6 |
53.1 |
|
July |
17.0 |
54.5 |
26.1 |
|
August |
35.9 |
34.1 |
45.1 |
|
September |
30.1 |
33.9 |
33.5 |
|
October |
42.3 |
21.3 |
57.7 |
|
November |
68.0 |
46.8 |
73.3 |
|
December |
59.5 |
30.8 |
80.0 |
|
TOTAL |
403.0 |
502.5 |
502.1 |
2 – Tunisia Exports to USA
In millions of U.S. dollars)
|
Month |
Exports 2007 |
Exports 2008 |
Exports 2009 |
|
January |
27.0 |
21.8 |
25.0 |
|
February |
23.3 |
113.5 |
25.8 |
|
March |
25.0 |
66.3 |
27.2 |
|
April |
61.0 |
96.9 |
41.4 |
|
May |
29.8 |
44.2 |
34.2 |
|
June |
38.7 |
39.0 |
28.8 |
|
July |
88.0 |
88.9 |
26.6 |
|
August |
37.4 |
30.3 |
31.1 |
|
September |
17.4 |
51.0 |
24.1 |
|
October |
19.8 |
49.2 |
20.4 |
|
November |
15.5 |
25.2 |
21.0 |
|
December |
74.7 |
17.8 |
20.3 |
|
TOTAL |
457.6 |
644.0 |
325.8 |
Source : US Census Bureau
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