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Government of the United Kingdom | 4 October 2019
UK and Tunisia sign continuity agreement
The UK government has signed a trade and political continuity agreement with Tunisia in London today.
The British Ambassador to Tunisia Louise De Sousa signed the agreement with the Tunisian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Nabil Ben Khedher.
Welcoming the agreement, UK Minister for the Middle East Dr Andrew Murrison said:
« The signing of this agreement demonstrates the UK’s commitment to Tunisia, working together to support our shared long-term ambitions for a deeper economic partnership.
Tunisia represents opportunities for UK companies and this agreement gives exporters and consumers the certainty they need to continue trading freely and in confidence as the UK prepares to leave the EU.»
The Agreement will ensure British businesses and consumers benefit from continued trade with Tunisia after we leave the European Union. It provides, among other trade benefits, tariff-free trade of industrial products together with liberalisation of trade in agricultural, agri-food and fisheries products.
This will further help to strengthen the trading relationship between the UK and Tunisia, which was worth £378 million last year, an increase of 3.0% on the previous year.
In addition to growing trade, today’s agreement seeks to deepen UK-Tunisian cooperation across foreign policy, economic, social and cultural ties. The Agreement provides a framework for policy dialogue and to strengthen cooperation on important issues like education, trade, environmental and human rights matters; reaffirming Britain’s commitment to a close relationship with Tunisia and North Africa.
Minister of State for Trade Conor Burns said:
«
The UK government is committed to ensuring that businesses are fully prepared for Brexit. Today’s signing ensures that UK and Tunisian businesses, exporters and consumers can continue to trade freely after the UK leaves the EU on 31st October.
I am confident that this agreement will usher in a new phase of greater cooperation between our two countries and help pave the way for increased bilateral trade and investment in the future.»
Tunisian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Nabil Ben Khedher said:
« I welcome the signing of this association agreement which ensures that businesses and consumers from both countries will continue to benefit from preferential trading terms after the UK leaves the European Union…
…We look forward to more British and Tunisian companies doing business with each other, investing and operating in the UK and Tunisia as a result of this agreement.»
Notes to editors