WORLD TRADE G/ADP/N/1/TUN/1
G/SCM/N/1/TUN/1
25January 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-0253)
Original: French Committee onAnti-Dumping Practices
Committee onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures
NOTIFICATION OFLAWS AND REGULATIONS UNDER
ARTICLES 18.5AND 32.6OFTHE AGREEMENTS
TUNISIA
Thefollowing communication, dated 19December 1995, hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent
Mission ofTunisia.
_______________
ThePermanent Mission ofTunisia inGeneva presents itscompliments totheSecretariat of
theWorld Trade Organization and,pursuant totheprovisions ofArticle 18.5oftheAgreement on
Implementation ofArticle VIoftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994 andArticle 32.6
oftheAgreement onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures andinorder tocomply withtherelevant
decisions bytheCommittee onAnti-Dumping Practices (documents G/ADP/N/1 and
G/ADP/N/1/Suppl.1) andtheCommittee onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures (documents
G/SCM/N/1 andG/SCM/N/1/Suppl.1), hasthehonour toattach herewith thetextofLawNo.94-41
of7March 1994 onForeign Trade (Articles 12to33)andDecree No.44-1745 of29August 1994
establishing thecriteria andprocedures fordetermining unfair import practices.
Itshould benoted thatTunisia isreviewing thislegislation inorder toensure itsconsistency
withtheWTO Agreements.
Theauthority responsible forinvestigating anti-dumping andmatters related tocountervailing
duties istheMinistry responsible fortrade inaccordance withtheLawof7March 1994 mentioned
above.G/ADP/N/1/TUN/1
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LAW NO.94-41 OF7MARCH 1994
ONFOREIGN TRADE
Inthename ofthepeople,
Following adoption bytheChamber ofDeputies,
ThePresident oftheRepublic promulgates thefollowing Law:
Article 1Thepurpose ofthisLawistodefine theforeign trade regime applicable toimports and
exports ofgoods, hereinafter called "products".
• • • •
CHAPTER III
PROTECTION AGAINST UNFAIR IMPORT PRACTICES
SECTION I
ESTABLISHMENT OFCOUNTERVAILING DUTIES
Article 12Unfair import practices mean theimport ofanydumped orsubsidized products which,
when released forconsumption, cause orthreaten material injury toadomestic industry producing
likeproducts ormaterially retard theestablishment ordevelopment ofadomestic industry producing
likeproducts.
Article 13Aproduct isdeemed tobe:
- Dumped, when thepriceforexport toTunisia islessthanthenormal value orthevalue
ofalikeproduct intheordinary course oftrade inthecountry ofexport ororigin;
- subsidized, when ithasbenefited inthecountry ofexport ororigin from adirect or
indirect bounty orpremium forproduction, processing, export ortransport.
Article 14Acountervailing import dutymaybeimposed onanydumped orsubsidized product.
Theamount ofthedutymaynotexceed themargin ofdumping ortheamount ofthesubsidy.
Definitive andprovisional countervailing duties shallbefixed bytheMinister forFinance in
adecree following aproposal bytheMinister responsible fortrade.
These duties shallbecollected inthesame wayascustoms duties.
Article 15Where apreliminary investigation indicates thatanimported product shows evidence of
dumping orsubsidization, andcauses orthreatens material injury toadomestic industry producing
likeproducts, itsrelease forconsumption ontheTunisian market maybemade conditional upon the
deposit ofsecurity equal tothemargin ofdumping ortheamount ofthesubsidy, asaprovisional
countervailing duty.G/ADP/N/1/TUN/1
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Provisional countervailing duties shallbevalid foramaximum period offourmonths from
their application. TheMinister forFinance may, however, following aproposal bytheMinister
responsible fortrade, extend thisperiod byafurther twomonths.
Article 16Where aprovisional countervailing dutyhasnotbeenimposed onimports ofdumped or
subsidized products released forconsumption andwhere theinjury orthreat ofinjury caused bythese
imports hasbeendefinitively established, theMinister forFinance may, following aproposal bythe
Minister responsible fortrade, pursuant totheprovisions ofArticle 15above, impose countervailing
duties ontheimports retroactively provided thataperiod of90dayshasnotelapsed since thedate
onwhich thesaidproducts entered customs forrelease forconsumption.
Article 17Thesecurity deposited foraprovisional countervailing dutyasprovided forinArticle 15
ofthisLawshallberegularized asfollows according tothecircumstances:
- Where thedefinitive countervailing dutyisequal totheprovisional dutyforwhich
thesecurity wasgiven, thesecurity shallbedefinitively collected;
- where thedefinitive countervailing dutyishigher thantheprovisional dutyforwhich
thesecurity wasgiven, thedifference shallbecollected;
- where thedefinitive countervailing dutyislower thantheprovisional dutyforwhich
thesecurity wasgiven, theexcess amount shallbereimbursed.
Article 18Where aninvestigation shows thattheexporter isdirectly orindirectly responsible for
allorpartofthecountervailing duty, anadditional countervailing dutymaybefixed inaccordance
withArticles 14and15ofthisLaw.
Article 19Thecriteria andprocedures forevaluating thenormal value, theinjury suffered bydomestic
industry, themargin ofdumping orthesubsidy, theprocedures forapplying provisional anddefinitive
countervailing duties andother procedures relating toprotection against dumping andsubsidization
shallbefixed bydecree.
SECTION II
PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS
Article 20Applications concerning dumped orsubsidized imports shallbemade totheMinistry
responsible fortrade either bynatural orlegalpersons orbytheorganizations concerned.
Thewritten application submitted totheMinister responsible fortradeshallcontain sufficient
evidence oftheexistence ofdumping orsubsidization causing orlikely tocause material injury toa
domestic industry producing likeproducts.
Article 21Where apreliminary examination oftheapplication shows thatthereissufficient evidence,
theMinister responsible fortrade shallimmediately order theinitiation ofaninvestigation andshall
officially inform theparties concerned.
Theinitiation ofaninvestigation shallnothinder theprocedures ofcustoms clearance.
Article 22Where itisdecided toinitiate aninvestigation, theMinister responsible fortrade shall
takethefollowing steps:G/ADP/N/1/TUN/1
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-Transmittherequestsforinformationrequiredfortheinvestigationtothepartiesconcerned,
which shallprovide theinformation requested andtransmit ittotheservices oftheMinistry
responsible fortrade within 30daysfrom thedateofreceipt. Ifnecessary, thisperiod
maybeextended byafurther 15days;
-place anannouncement intheJournal Officiel oftheTunisian Republic concerning the
initiation ofaninvestigation intothedumped orsubsidized product.
Where anapplication isrejected because there isnotsufficient evidence, theapplicant shall
besoinformed.
Article 23Inordertoverifytheinformationprovidedduringtheinvestigation,officialsoftheMinistry
responsible fortrade oranyother dulyauthorized officials maycarry outvisits andmake checks in
theplaces ofwork orproduction ofthenatural orlegalpersons involved intheinvestigation.
Thesame procedure maybefollowed outside Tunisia inagreement withtheexporter andthe
competent authorities ofthecountry concerned.
Where necessary, andtaking intoaccount thespecial features ofthecaseconcerned, information
maybesought fromTunisian orforeign public establishments andinstitutions bothwithin Tunisia and
abroad.
Theinvestigation shallcontinue onthebasis oftheinformation available totheinvestigators
when itappears thatoneoftheparties concerned cannot, foranyreason, provide theinformation sought,
communicates falseinformation, refuses toprovide information ortriestohinder theinvestigation.
Article 24Theinformation obtained during aninvestigation maynotbeusedforanypurpose other
thantheprocedure relating todumping orsubsidization.
Theparties concerned shall provide anon-confidential summary ofinformation when so
requested.
Whereacasecomesbeforethecourts,theTunisianAdministrationshallhavetherighttoprovide
theconfidential information, ortheinformation deemed tobeconfidential bytheparties concerned,
inorder tojustify itscasefortheapplication oftheregulations forprotection against dumping and
subsidization.
Article 25Theservices responsible fortheinvestigation maygivetheparties concerned ahearing
iftheysorequest, orforthepurposes oftheinvestigation, either together orseparately.
Interested parties mayrequest inwriting toseenon-confidential information withtheexception
ofthatrelating totheinvestigation.
Article 26Officials responsible foreconomic investigations andanyother persons having knowledge
oftheinvestigation fileshallbebound toprofessional secrecy andArticle 254ofthePenal Code shall
beapplicable tothem.
Article 27Exporters andimporters ofproducts under investigation, aswellasapplicants requesting
aninvestigation, maybeinformed ofthecourse oftheproceedings andtheoutcome oftheinvestigation.G/ADP/N/1/TUN/1
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Thisinformation, however, which maybefurnished inwriting, shallbewithout prejudice to
thedecisions tobetaken.
Article 28AnypartyinvolvedshallhavetherighttomakeawrittenrequesttotheMinisterresponsible
fortrade toholdconsultations withaviewtoreaching anamicable solution ofdisputes arising inthe
context ofcombating dumping orsubsidization.
Article 29After theannouncement oftheinitiation ofaninvestigation hasappeared intheJournal
Officiel oftheTunisian Republic inaccordance withArticle 22ofthisLaw, operators intending to
import dumped orsubsidized products shallinform theMinister responsible fortradeofthequantities
andvalue oftheplanned imports before clearing theproducts through customs.
Article 30Aninvestigation shallbeterminated either without imposing provisional ordefinitive
measures, byaccepting theundertakings provided forinArticle 31orifthesubject ofthecomplaint
nolonger exists.
DecisionsonterminatinganinvestigationshallbepublishedintheJournalOfficieloftheTunisian
Republic.
Where acceptable undertakings aregiven during theinvestigation, thelattermaybeterminated.
Terminationoftheinvestigationshallnotpreventthedefinitivepaymentoftheamountsdeposited
assecurity forprovisional countervailing duties.
Article 31Undertaking means anyactoraction bywhich:
(a) Thegovernment ofthecountry oforigin orexport ofthesubsidized product abolishes
orlimits thesubsidy ortakes other measures toterminate itsinjurious effects;
(b) theexporter concerned adjusts theprice orwithdraws theexports soastoeliminate
themargin ofdumping ortheresulting injurious effects.
Where undertakings given arenotrespected, theprocedure shallresume onthebasis ofthe
acknowledgementofdumpingorsubsidizationbythepartyconcernedanditsinjuriouseffectsondomestic
industry.
SECTION III
REVIEW AND REFUND
Article 32 Decisions establishing countervailing duties anddecisions accepting theundertakings
referred toinArticle 31ofthisLawmaybereviewed.
Thedecisions maybereviewed attherequest ofinterested parties which submit evidence of
achange inthesituation thatissufficient tojustify theneedtocarry outareview, provided thatat
leastoneyearhaselapsed since thedateofimposition ofthecountervailing duties.
Article 33 Requests forreview shallbesenttotheMinister responsible fortrade. When itis
shown thatareview isnecessary, theinvestigation isreopened inaccordance withArticles 22,23,
24and25ofthisLaw.G/ADP/N/1/TUN/1
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Reopening oftheinvestigation shallnotaffect themeasures taken.
Theconclusion oftheinvestigation onreview ofthemeasures mayleadtotheirmodification
ortheirconfirmation.
Where thereview ofcountervailing duties leadstolower duties, thedifference shallberefunded.G/ADP/N/1/TUN/1
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DECREE NO.94-1745 OF29AUGUST 1994 ESTABLISHING THE CRITERIA AND
PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINING UNFAIR IMPORT PRACTICES
ThePresident oftheRepublic,
Following aproposal bytheMinister forFinance andtheMinister fortheNational Economy,
Taking intoaccount theCustoms Code,
Taking intoaccount LawNo.90-61 of28June1990ratifying Tunisia 'sProtocol ofAccession
totheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade (GATT),
Taking intoaccount LawNo.91-64 of29July1991 onCompetition andPrices,
Taking intoaccount LawNo.94-41 of7March 1994 onForeign Trade, andinparticular
Article 19,
Taking intoaccount theopinion oftheAdministrative Tribunal,
DECREES:
Article 1 Thepurpose ofthisDecree istoestablish thecriteria andprocedures forevaluating
thenormal value, theinjury suffered bydomestic industry, export prices andthemargin ofdumping
orsubsidy.
Article 2 Thefollowing definitions shallapply:
1. Domestic industry: domestic producers asawhole ofthelikeproduct orthose ofthem
whose collective output oftheproducts constitutes amajor proportion ofthetotal
domestic production ofthose products.
2. Likeproduct: aproduct alikeinallrespects totheproduct dumped orsubsidized or
intheabsence ofsuchaproduct another product which, although notalike inall
respects,hascharacteristicscloselyresemblingthoseoftheproductunderconsideration.
CHAPTER 1
NORMAL VALUE
Article 3 Normal value means either:
1. Thecomparable priceactually paidorpayable intheordinary course oftradeforthelikeproduct
when destined forconsumption inthecountry oforigin orexport.
Theprice shallbenetofanydiscount orother reduction directly related tothesales under
consideration.
Deferred discounts maybeallowed ifevidence isproduced toshow thattheyareusual practice.
2. When there arenosalesofthelikeproduct intheordinary course oftrade inthemarket of
thecountry oforigin orexport orwhen suchsalesdonotpermit aproper comparison:G/ADP/N/1/TUN/1
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(a) Thecomparable price ofthelikeproduct when exported toathirdcountry; or
(b) theconstructed value established byadding thecostofproduction plusareasonable
amount forprofit.
Thecostofproduction shallbecalculated onthebasis ofallfixed andvariable costs related
tomaterials andmanufacture intheordinary course oftradeinthecountry oforigin, plusareasonable
amount forselling, administrative andother general costs.
3. When anexporter doesnotproduce orsellthelikeproduct inthecountry oforigin, thenormal
value shallbedetermined onthebasisoftheprices orcostsofother sellers orproducers inthecountry
oforigin.
Article 4 When aproduct isnotimported directly from thecountry oforigin butisexported
toTunisia fromathirdcountry, thenormal value shallbethecomparable priceactually paidorpayable
forthelikeproduct inthedomestic market ofthecountry ofexport ororigin.
Article 5 Thenormal value ofimports from countries withcentrally-planned economies shall
bedetermined onthebasis:
(a) Oftheprice atwhich alikeproduct from athirdcountry withamarket economy is
actually sold:
- either forconsumption inthemarket ofthatcountry;
- ortoother countries.
(b) theconstructed value ofthelikeproduct inathird country withamarket economy
country; or
(c) thepriceactually paidorpayable intheTunisian market forthelikeproduct, including
areasonable margin ofprofit.
CHAPTER II
ORDINARY COURSE OFTRADE
Article 6 Ordinary course oftrade means salesofproducts forconsumption inthecountry of
origin atprices thatreflect actual production costs.
Article 7 Sales ofproducts atprices below production costs shallnotbetreated asbeing inthe
ordinary course oftrade iftheyinvolve substantial quantities during theperiod oftheinvestigation
andtheprices donotprovide fortherecovery ofallreasonably allocated costs intheordinary course
oftrade within theabove-mentioned period.G/ADP/N/1/TUN/1
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CHAPTER III
EXPORT PRICES
Article 8 Theexport price shallbetheprice actually paidorpayable fortheproduct soldfor
export toTunisia netofanytaxordiscount actually applied anddirectly related tothesales under
consideration.
Article 9 When there isnoexport price orwhere itisnoted thatthere isacompensatory
arrangement between theexporter andtheimporter orathirdparty orwhen foranyreason theprice
paidorpayable fortheproduct soldforexport cannot beusedasareference price, theexport price
maybeconstructed onthebasis oftheprice atwhich theimported products arefirstresold toan
independent buyer.
Iftheproducts arenotresold toanindependent buyer ornotresold inthecondition asimported,
theexport priceshallbeestablished onsuchreasonable basisastheMinistry responsible fortrademay
determine.
CHAPTER IV
PRICE COMPARISON
Article 10 Thenormal value andtheexport price shallbecompared atasnearly aspossible the
same time.
Thiscomparison shall takeintoaccount prices atthesame level oftrade, normally atthe
ex-factory level, thephysical characteristics oftheproduct, anydifferences interms ofsale,taxation
oranyother differences affecting price comparability.
CHAPTER V
DETERMINATION OFINJURY
Article 11 Adetermination ofinjury shallinvolve anobjective examination ofthevolume ofthe
dumped orsubsidized imports andtheeffect ofthese imports onprices inthedomestic market for
likeproducts, aswellastheirimpact ondomestic producers ofsuchproducts.
Article 12 Theexamination oftheimpact ofthedumped orsubsidized imports onthedomestic
industry concerned shallinclude anevaluation ofallrelevant economic factors andindices having a
bearing onthestateoftheindustry, including:
- Actual andpotential decline insales, profits, output, market share, productivity, return
oninvestments, orutilization ofcapacity;
- negative effects oncashflow, inventories, employment, wages andgrowth.
Article 13 Adetermination ofathreat ofmaterial injury shallbebased onfactsandnotmerely
onremote possibilities.
Article 14 Inmaking adetermination regarding theexistence ofathreat ofmaterial injury, the
officials responsible fortheinvestigation shallconsider interaliasuchfactors as:G/ADP/N/1/TUN/1
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- Asignificant rateofincrease ofdumped orsubsidized imports inthedomestic market
indicating thelikelihood ofsubstantially increased importation;
- entry ofimports atprices thathaveasignificant depressing orsuppressing effect on
domestic prices;
- inventories oftheproduct being investigated.
Article 15 Thedumped orsubsidized imports must bethedirect cause oftheinjury. The
demonstration ofacausal relationship between theimports andtheinjury tothedomestic industry shall
bebased onanexamination ofallrelevant evidence.
CHAPTER VI
MARGIN OFDUMPING
Article 16 Thedifference between theexport price andthenormal value oftheproduct dumped
shallconstitute themargin ofdumping.
CHAPTER VII
AMOUNT OFSUBSIDY
Article 17 Theamountofthesubsidyshallbecalculatedperunitofproductsubsidizedandexported
totheTunisian market.
- Thefollowing shallbededucted from theamount ofthetotalsubsidy:
(a) administrative costsandother costsnecessarily incurred inorder tobeentitled
tothesubsidy ortobenefit from it;
(b) export taxes, duties orother charges imposed forexport oftheproduct to
Tunisia forthepurpose ofoffsetting thesubsidy.
Article 19 These deductions maynotbemade unless theparty concerned hasrequested themand
provided thesupporting evidence.
Article 20 Allprevious provisions thatduplicate those ofthisDecree arehereby repealed.
Article 21 TheMinister forFinance andtheMinister fortheNational Economy areresponsible
intheirrespective spheres ofcompetence forimplementation ofthisDecree, which willbepublished
intheJournal Officiel oftheTunisian Republic.
ZineElAbidine BenAli