WT/REG433/2/Rev.1  
21 October  2022 
(22-7895) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  Original:  English/French  
 
 
ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND TUNISIA,  
GOODS  
QUESTIONS AND REPLIES  
Revision  
 The following communication, dated 19 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 marke ts 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. Article 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 competitive 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 selecting the measures to be appl ied, 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 Party. The Party that imposes saf eguard 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 requiring immediate action make pri or information or WT/REG433/2/Rev.1  
 
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  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 mad e to Association Committee.  
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 procedure for determining 
the exi stence 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 relationship before the affected Party see ks to impose 
a measure.  
 
 The interpretation of "serious disturbances" will be assessed on a case -by-case basis by the 
Parties where relevant.  
 
Response from Tunisia  
 
 Article 27 of the Agreement provides for specific safeguard measures where any product is 
being imported in such increased quantities and under such conditions as to cause, or threaten to 
cause, serious injury to domestic producers or serious disturbances in any sector of the economy. It 
does not define serious disturbances, since it  links the application of this measure to each 
disturbance being referred for examination to the Association Committee, which may take any 
decision needed to put an end to such disturbances.  
 
 Tunisia has never activated the provisions provided under Articles 25, 26 and 27 with its 
trading partners.  
 
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