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AGRICULTURE, TRADE, AND POVERTY IN TUNISIA 111


etables. Exports of these products are slowly being supplanted by increases in exports of melons, table grapes, table olives, and, potentially, tomatoes and strawberries. At the same time, Tunisia is a net importer of other agricul- tural products, mainly wheat, sugar, and vegetable oils. For these products, the E.U. is a leading exporter country. Both the imports and exports of agri- cultural products by Tunisia are sensitive to the common agricultural policy of the E.U. In fact, import prices for agricultural products are significantly determined by the level of European subsidies on exports under the common agricultural policy; likewise, exports of Tunisian agricultural products are subject to the protection instruments implemented through this policy. Trade relations between Tunisia and the E.U. in agricultural and food products are governed by the EMP Agreement signed in 1995. This provides for the establishment of a free trade area following a 12-year transitional period. The foundation of the partnership agreement is the principle of reciprocity. It provides for the removal of tariffs on all products, with the exception of agricultural products. Agricultural products are excluded from the agreement and are subject to specific arrangements. In fact, trade in agricultural and food products remains affected by barriers to entry in both markets. In the case of the E.U. market, the Common Agricultural Policy has introduced many barriers to the importation of Tunisian agricultural and food products. Although agriculture was excluded from the 1995 agreement, the agree- ment provided for the E.U. and Tunisia to review the trade regime for agri- culture in 2000. In December 2000 the E.U. and Tunisia agreed on measures to liberalize trade in agricultural products beginning in January 2001. As an illustration, Tunisia has obtained better access to the E.U. market for olive oil (an increase in the annual quota and a duty set to zero), cut flowers, tomato concentrate, new potatoes, and oranges, for which an increase in the free duty quota has been agreed. The E.U. has obtained improved access for vegetable oils and wheat with the application of the preferential tariffs. In accordance with Protocol 3 of the association agreement, Tunisia applies preferential tariff quotas to several agro-food products originating in the E.U. With respect to meat, dairy products, cereals, and sugar, which are also cov- ered by WTO tariff quotas, exports from the E.U. may draw either on the WTO quota or on the preferential quota. However, E.U. exports under preferential tariff quotas are zero-rated; moreover, these quotas also cover other agricul- tural products such as eggs, poultry, potatoes, hazelnuts, maize (corn), meal, malt, starch, certain flours, fats, oils, glucose, and dog and cat food. For Tunisian agricultural exports to the European market, a new regime of trade implemented on March 8, 2001, ratified the association agreement between the parties through the modification of the agricultural protocols annexed to the 1995 association agreement. In this respect, export quotas,


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