BUYUSA.GOV -- U.S. Commercial Service

Tunisia Local time: 02:31 PM

Market Challenges

  • Doing business in Tunisia can be challenging for US companies, who may perceive the Tunisian bureaucracy as cumbersome and slow and may find that the regulatory environment lacks coherence and consistency. The decision-making process can be opaque and at odds with the government’s official pro-business stance, which proclaims transparency. However, with adequate planning and longer lead times, favorable results can be obtained.
  • Imports from the EU enjoy a considerable price advantage over other countries' products as many EU products are now totally exempt from import duties. US products generally enjoy widespread acceptance among consumers, although their perceived edge in quality and technology can be offset by the additional costs associated with their distribution by European intermediaries and the recent depreciation of the Tunisian Dinar against the Euro.
  • The EU and many European countries offer excellent financing terms for trade. Tunisian companies are familiar with these opportunities but are generally unfamiliar with financing opportunities available when purchasing US goods. The US Embassy in Tunis works closely with the Ex-Im Bank, OPIC and other US organizations to promote awareness of US financing sources.
  • Despite difficulties, US firms often successfully compete against betterestablished European companies and have won significant Tunisian government contracts, especially in fields demanding cutting-edge US technology. The US Embassy in Tunis actively promotes these sectors as being the most attractive for US companies.
  • US exporters to Tunisia should be aware that Tunisian law prohibits the export of currency as payment for imports before documents are presented to the bank confirming that the merchandise has entered the country. This is usually in the form of Tunisian customs authority documents. US exporters have used confirmed, irrevocable letters of credit and letters of credit authorizing "payment against documents" in past transactions.
  • US companies should also be extremely careful to verify with Tunisia’s Central Bank (Banque Centrale de Tunisie) whether they are permitted to receive payment in foreign currency for services to customers resident in Tunisia. This issue has been the source of confusion and occasional difficulty for some US companies in Tunisia.