Tunisian agency outlines FTA’s toll on shoe industry
The Tunisian Observatory of Economy (OTE) has reported that worsening trade deficits with China and Turkey are having a severe impact on the country’s leather and textiles sectors.
Its report said: "The top rankings of China and Turkey in domestic imports are a threat to some sectors that are losing more and more ground in the domestic market.
“The textile and leather sectors have suffered huge losses since the signing of the free trade agreement with Turkey [in 2005], which caused the shutdown of about 7,000 shoe factories."
Reports in local press said the OTE welcomed the suggestion to revise the free trade agreement with Turkey announced by the Trade Ministry and revise customs duties levied on about 3,000 imported industrial and agricultural products.
