USTR Announces Relaunch of Tunisia Trade and Investment Talks

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced that a U.S. delegation met recently with officials from Tunisia to relaunch discussions under the 2002 bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). The delegations have established working groups to work on trade facilitation; trade and investment promotion; reduction of barriers to investment in key service sectors such as information and communications technology services; financial services; clean energy services; strengthening the protection of intellectual property rights; and promoting the rule of law through greater transparency.

These groups will report on their progress at the first newly launched TIFA Council meeting. (See ITT's Online Archives 11091532 for summary of USTR considering improved GSP access and other benefits for the Middle East and North Africa, starting with Egypt and Tunisia.)