EU Grants New Trade Concessions to Tunisian Textile Sector
The European Union has officially implemented new trade concessions to benefit the Tunisian textile sector. Adopted on July 24, 2025, a European Commission implementing regulation outlines the application modalities for preferential rules for certain textile and clothing products manufactured in Tunisia to enter the European market. This measure is part of the revision of Protocol 4 of the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement, which has been in effect retroactively since January 22, 2025.
These new measures concern products such as pants, t-shirts, shirts, dresses, underwear, workwear, and swimwear. For these categories, the European Union grants annual quotas that allow access to the European market without customs duties, even if the products have not been fully transformed in Tunisia. For example, the quota allows for the annual export of 3,220,000 men's denim pants and 1,515,000 women's denim pants. In this framework, a simple cutting of fabric followed by confection is sufficient for a garment to be recognized as of Tunisian origin. This principle, known as "simple transformation," is an exception to the classical rules that generally require double transformation (spinning + confection) to benefit from preferential treatment.
Tunisian companies can thus import raw materials from abroad, perform cutting and confection locally, and still benefit from the customs advantages offered by the Association Agreement. This flexibility reduces supply chain constraints and improves the competitiveness of the Tunisian sector compared to other exporting countries like Morocco, Turkey, or Bangladesh. The European regulation provides for a five-year application period for these quotas, with possible adjustments based on the volumes used. If the annual quota is consumed at 100%, it can be automatically increased by 10% for the following year. Conversely, if less than 85% is used, part of the unused quota can be carried over.
To benefit from these concessions, Tunisian exporters must provide proof of origin, including a EUR.1 certificate, with a specific mention indicating that the product falls under the derogation provided for in Appendix B of Protocol 4. Products that already meet the classical rules of origin of the agreement continue to be exported freely and without quantity limitations. The derogations do not replace them but add an additional option for companies that wish to diversify their supply chains.
