WT/REG433/2  
 
19 September  2022 
(22-6754) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  Original: English/ Spanish  
 
 
ASSOCIATION  AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND TUNISIA,  
GOODS  
QUESTIONS AND REPLIES  
 The following communication, dated 6 September  2022, is being circulated at the request of 
the delegations of  the United Kingdom and Tunisia . 
 
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Question from Canada  
 
1.1.  Paragraph 4.17: According to the Report, Article 41 of the Agreement provides that 
the Parties agree to set themselves the objective to "reciprocally and progressively open 
their procurement markets " [free translation].  
 Could the Parties please provide a status update on their discussions to mutually 
open their respective government procurement markets?  
 
Response from the United Kingdom  
 
 Discussions on progressively opening procurement markets have not yet commenced.  
 
Response from Tunisia  
 
 Tunisia confirms  that discussions  on progressively opening procurement markets have not 
been initiated yet.  
 
Questions from Mexico  
 
Provisions on Trade in Goods  
 
1.2.  Paragraph 3.50: The Agreement incorporates Articles 25 to 27 of the EU -Tunisia 
Association Agreement, which permits the Parties to take appropriate safeguard 
measures for legitimate reasons specified under the Agreement. Arti cle 25 describes the 
situation when any product originating in a Party is being imported in such increased 
quantities and under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause, in the other Party, 
serious injury to domestic producers of like or directly c ompetitive products, or serious 
disturbances in any sector of the economy of the other Party. If such a situation arises, 
the Parties may take appropriate measures under the conditions and in accordance with 
the procedures laid down in Article 27. While se lecting the measures to be applied, priority 
must be given to those that least disturb the functioning of the Agreement. The Parties 
agree to hold prior consultations on import surges in a Party by supplying information on 
trade flow trends to the other Pa rty. The Party that imposes safeguard measures shall 
immediately notify the Association Committee, which is subject to periodic consultations, 
particularly with a view to their abolition as soon as circumstances permit. Where 
exceptional circumstances requ iring immediate action make prior information or 
examination impossible, the Party concerned may apply precautionary measures as are 
strictly necessary to remedy the situation. In such a case, it shall immediately inform the 
other Party, and the subsequent  notification shall also be made to Association Committee.  WT/REG433/2  
 
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  a. Could the Parties please explain what is meant by "serious disturbances"?  
b. Could the Parties provide some examples of "serious disturbances"?  
c. Could the Parties also explain, in general terms, the pr ocedure for determining 
the existence of "serious disturbances"?  
Response from the United Kingdom  
 
 If the UK or Tunisia believes that any of the situations set out in Article 25 exists, the Parties 
will hold consultations to assess the trading relationshi p before the affected Party seeks to impose 
a measure.  
 
 The interpretation of "serious disturbances " will be assessed on a case -by-case basis by the 
Parties where relevant.  
 
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