US Imposes Additional Customs Tariffs on 60 Trading Partners
As of July 24, 2026, Washington has applied additional customs tariffs of 10 to 12.5% on approximately 60 trading partners. These tariffs target countries that do not adequately combat child labor, which is contrary to US regulations. Tunisia is not on this list, giving it a significant advantage over its main competitors on the international stage.
An Unnamed Advantage
Tunisia has not negotiated any favors or special status with Washington and has simply remained under the radar of American investigators. As a result, its exports continue to circulate at the classic customs tariff rate, while direct competitors like Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, and Turkey are subject to additional tariffs.
European Situation
The situation is different in Europe, where Spain and Italy are still capped at 15% customs duties, a rate set long ago in trade negotiations between Brussels and Washington.
Good Timing for the Sector
Between November 2025 and June 2026, Tunisian exporters sold 352,000 tons of olive oil, a 56.7% increase compared to the 224,600 tons of the previous campaign. The same dynamic applies to revenue: 4.394 billion dinars (approximately €1.29 billion) were generated, a 45% increase over the previous year. Extra virgin olive oil dominates the market, accounting for 83.4% of the total.
Client Base Remains Unchanged
On the client side, the hierarchy remains largely unchanged: Spain remains the top customer with 32.4% of volumes, followed by Italy at 19.7%, and the United States at 19.4%, still in third place. Overall, Europe still captures the majority of Tunisian exports (56.8%), far ahead of North America (24.2%).
Bulk Exports Remain a Weak Point
From one campaign to another, the main handicap for Tunisian olive oil exports remains the same: 86.3% of Tunisian oil is still exported in bulk, compared to only 13.7% that is packaged. Some of this production is eventually bottled and sold under foreign brands, particularly Spanish and Italian ones, resulting in value added being lost abroad.
Opportunity for Investors
This tariff differential opens up a concrete opportunity for Tunisian operators looking to strengthen their presence in the US market, the sector's third-largest outlet. The competitiveness gap with Spanish and Italian competitors, who are taxed at 15% in the US, argues in favor of investments in local packaging and the development of Tunisian export brands, a segment that currently accounts for only 18.2% of the total export value.
However, this tariff advantage is not guaranteed in the long term: Washington reserves the right to expand the list of countries subject to its trade investigations at any time.
