RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/STR/Q1/TUN/5
11July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-2917)
Original: English Working Party onState Trading Enterprises
STATE TRADING
Question Posed bytheUNITED STATES
Concerning theArticle XVII Notification ofTUNISIA1
Thefollowing communication, wasreceived 8July1997 fromthePermanent Mission ofthe
United States.
_________________
Itisourunderstanding thattheTunisian National Tobacco andMatches Agency (RNTA) uses
adifferential excise taxandretailpricecontrol system torestrict thesalesanddistribution ofinternational
brand cigarettes inthedomestic market. Could Tunisia please provide explicit details onthestructure
andoperation ofthissystem? Asthissystem isclearly aviolation ofthenational treatment provisions
ofGATT Article III,canTunisia provide uswithanindication ofwhen itintends tobring thissystem
intoconformity withitsWTO obligations?
1G/STR/N/1/TUN andCorr.1.