III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 506 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should initiate 

negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with the Republic of Tunisia. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 27, 2020 

Mr. MURPHY (for himself and Mr. GRAHAM) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States 

should initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade 

agreement with the Republic of Tunisia. 

Whereas Tunisia has been developing its democratic and market-economy institutions since its democratic revolution 

in 2011; 

Whereas the people of the United States and Tunisia share 

core values, such as respect for human rights, democracy, 

and the rule of law; 

Whereas the democratically elected Government of Tunisia 

has committed to combat corruption and increase transparency and accountability in government institutions, 

and should continue to work toward these important 

goals; 


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•SRES 506 IS 

Whereas the Government of Tunisia has implemented a number of economic reforms intended to encourage entrepreneurship and small business development, particularly in 

its tax and regulatory regimes, and has passed new laws 

on investment, public-private partnerships, and bankruptcy; 

Whereas the efforts of the Government of Tunisia to reduce 

its budget deficit by tightening government spending, reforming domestic subsidies for fuel and foodstuffs, and 

allowing its currency to devalue through more exchange 

rate flexibility have arguably caused economic hardships 

for many families; 

Whereas strong economic growth and investment would help 

provide the necessary resources to reduce unemployment 

in Tunisia, as well as to further strengthen democratic 

institutions and solidify public support for democratic 

governance; 

Whereas a vibrant, stable, and prosperous democracy in the 

Middle East and North Africa is in the interest of the 

United States; 

Whereas the political evolution of Tunisia stands as an inspiration for citizens of other states aspiring to establish the 

institutions of democracy after a history of autocratic 

rule; 

Whereas Tunisia continues to face serious threats to its security from violent extremist groups operating within the 

country as well as in neighboring countries; 

Whereas, in July 2015, the United States designated Tunisia 

as a major non-NATO ally; 

Whereas the Government of Tunisia has committed a significant portion of its budget to defense and interior minVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Feb 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR506.IS SR506

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•SRES 506 IS 

istries for counterterrorism in recent years, at the expense of economic and social development; 

Whereas Tunisia faces economic challenges, including high 

inflation and high unemployment, especially among young 

Tunisians and college graduates; 

Whereas the United States is committed to continuing a 

strong economic partnership with Tunisia as its government undertakes reforms to transform its economy to 

meet the aspirations of all of the citizens of Tunisia; 

Whereas closer engagement with Tunisia through trade negotiations would encourage even greater reform in Tunisia 

and build its capacity to further modernize and develop 

its economy; 

Whereas the United States is Tunisia’s 7th largest trading 

partner; 

Whereas bilateral trade between Tunisia and the United 

States has increased from $949,000,000 in 2011 to 

$1,200,000,000 in 2018, according to the United States 

Census Bureau; 

Whereas the United States and Tunisia held the 8th round 

of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) 

talks in May 2019; 

Whereas Tunisia is a member of the World Trade Organization; 

Whereas Tunisia is currently eligible for preferential duty 

treatment under the United States Generalized System of 

Preferences program; 

Whereas the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and 

Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA) (title I of Public Law 

114–26) includes provisions to require that a trading 


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•SRES 506 IS 

partner adopt, implement, and enforce its own labor statutes, and that those statutes include internationally recognized core labor standards; and 

Whereas, pursuant to the Bipartisan Congressional Trade 

Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA), Congress has mandated that the President provide a 90-day 

notification of intent to begin trade negotiations and established principal negotiating objectives, which include 

that parties to a trade agreement combat corruption, 

trade in goods and services obtain competitive opportunities for export, and labor provisions are subject to the 

same dispute settlement procedures as all other obligations: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 

2 United States should initiate negotiations to enter into a 

3 free trade agreement with Tunisia. 

Æ 


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