Tunisia faces trade deficit with Algeria, report reveals

A new report shows that trade between Tunisia and Algeria remains well below expectations despite the two countries’ geographical closeness and cultural affinity, the Arab Weekly and agencies  reported on June 16th.

Researchers from the Tunisian Institute of Competitiveness and Quantitative Studies found that Tunisia suffers from a structural trade deficit largely driven by its reliance on Algerian natural gas and does not rank among Algeria’s top exporters.

The study attributes Tunisia’s weak performance to a lack of product diversification and limited economic integration in North Africa. Intra-regional trade accounts for only five percent of North African commerce, compared to 18 percent in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Arab Weekly and agencies