According to figures from the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, Tunisia’s trade deficit with Turkey has worsened, especially since 2007, has multiplied by more than 5 until 2020, from 409.2 million dinars in 2007 to 2140 million dinars in 2020.
This is attributed to the notable drop in the coverage rate of imports by exports, which reached its lowest level, around 13.8% in 2019 due to the widening of the deficit of 2,466.8 MTD, which is the maximum recorded for the deficit since the entry into force of the trade agreement between the two countries.
The widening of the trade deficit and the fall in the coverage rate is mainly due to the imbalance between the pace of development of the two components of trade, exports had recorded a slight and continuous increase since the entry into force of the agreement and the maximum recorded value of exports which reached 656.4 million dinars until the end of October of the current year, which represents a passage from the simple to the most of the quadrupled of the value recorded in 2005, that is to say, 138.3 million of dinars.
The stratospheric surge in Turkey’s imports
On the other hand, the value of imports until the end of October of the current year amounted to 2,765.4 MD, ie more than seven times the value recorded in 2005 (386.2 MD). Thus, the share of Turkish imports in total imports has increased steadily, reaching around 5.4% at the end of October of the current year, compared to only 3.2% in 2012.
This imbalance in the pace of development of the two components of trade reflects Tunisia’s inability to make the most of the partnership agreement with Turkey, this agreement having caused Turkish products to enter the local market without opening up broad prospects for national exports.
Regarding the structure of imports, semi-finished products represent around 41.1% of flows from Turkey until the end of October 2021, mainly composed of inputs for the electronics and textile sectors, in addition to some plastic materials and products, followed by consumables with a share of 39.2%. These include clothing, accessories, fabrics, and textiles, in addition to certain electrical appliances and packaging equipment.
In addition, the share of equipment accounts for 11.5% of total imports from Turkey and mainly includes freight vehicles, refrigeration equipment, and household appliances.
Petroleum and mining products
On the other hand, the share of food imports does not exceed 3% of total Turkish imports, and the imported quantities amounted to around 22.4 thousand tons at the end of last October. These materials include starch, dried fruits, fish, vegetables, and oils.
Regarding exports, the mining and phosphates sector has recorded in recent years the highest sales value among all sectors, because its share, until the end of October of the current year, reached about 37.8%, followed by the energy sector (27.8%), where the exported quantities of crude oil and fuels amounted to about 151.8 thousand tons.
As for the mechanical and electrical industries sector, it accounts for about 19% of total exports to Turkey, where electrical cables, medical equipment, and metal products made of iron, aluminum, and copper represent the most important sales in this sector.
Faced with this situation, Tunisia will seek to rationalize imports of Turkish origin and enhance national exports, in addition to focusing on the need to take advantage of all the opportunities for economic and technical cooperation that would advance the national economy.
It should be noted that the 2018 finance law implemented article 17 of the trade agreement with Turkey, a provision that provides for an increase in the customs duties applied to the products mentioned in Annex 2 of the agreement. , which do not exceed 20% of Tunisia’s total imports from Turkish manufactured materials.
In this context, it is suggested to organize consultations with the Turkish side in order to review the lists of products concerned.
