[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 506 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 506

   Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should 
  initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with the 
                          Republic of Tunisia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 27, 2020

    Mr. Murphy (for himself and Mr. Graham) submitted the following 
       resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should 
  initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with the 
                          Republic of Tunisia.

Whereas Tunisia has been developing its democratic and market-economy 
        institutions since its democratic revolution in 2011;
Whereas the people of the United States and Tunisia share core values, such as 
        respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law;
Whereas the democratically elected Government of Tunisia has committed to combat 
        corruption and increase transparency and accountability in government 
        institutions, and should continue to work toward these important goals;
Whereas the Government of Tunisia has implemented a number of economic reforms 
        intended to encourage entrepreneurship and small business development, 
        particularly in its tax and regulatory regimes, and has passed new laws 
        on investment, public-private partnerships, and bankruptcy;
Whereas the efforts of the Government of Tunisia to reduce its budget deficit by 
        tightening government spending, reforming domestic subsidies for fuel 
        and foodstuffs, and allowing its currency to devalue through more 
        exchange rate flexibility have arguably caused economic hardships for 
        many families;
Whereas strong economic growth and investment would help provide the necessary 
        resources to reduce unemployment in Tunisia, as well as to further 
        strengthen democratic institutions and solidify public support for 
        democratic governance;
Whereas a vibrant, stable, and prosperous democracy in the Middle East and North 
        Africa is in the interest of the United States;
Whereas the political evolution of Tunisia stands as an inspiration for citizens 
        of other states aspiring to establish the institutions of democracy 
        after a history of autocratic rule;
Whereas Tunisia continues to face serious threats to its security from violent 
        extremist groups operating within the country as well as in neighboring 
        countries;
Whereas, in July 2015, the United States designated Tunisia as a major non-NATO 
        ally;
Whereas the Government of Tunisia has committed a significant portion of its 
        budget to defense and interior ministries for counterterrorism in recent 
        years, at the expense of economic and social development;
Whereas Tunisia faces economic challenges, including high inflation and high 
        unemployment, especially among young Tunisians and college graduates;
Whereas the United States is committed to continuing a strong economic 
        partnership with Tunisia as its government undertakes reforms to 
        transform its economy to meet the aspirations of all of the citizens of 
        Tunisia;
Whereas closer engagement with Tunisia through trade negotiations would 
        encourage even greater reform in Tunisia and build its capacity to 
        further modernize and develop its economy;
Whereas the United States is Tunisia's 7th largest trading partner;
Whereas bilateral trade between Tunisia and the United States has increased from 
        $949,000,000 in 2011 to $1,200,000,000 in 2018, according to the United 
        States Census Bureau;
Whereas the United States and Tunisia held the 8th round of Trade and Investment 
        Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks in May 2019;
Whereas Tunisia is a member of the World Trade Organization;
Whereas Tunisia is currently eligible for preferential duty treatment under the 
        United States Generalized System of Preferences program;
Whereas the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 
        2015 (TPA) (title I of Public Law 114-26) includes provisions to require 
        that a trading partner adopt, implement, and enforce its own labor 
        statutes, and that those statutes include internationally recognized 
        core labor standards; and
Whereas, pursuant to the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and 
        Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA), Congress has mandated that the 
        President provide a 90-day notification of intent to begin trade 
        negotiations and established principal negotiating objectives, which 
        include that parties to a trade agreement combat corruption, trade in 
        goods and services obtain competitive opportunities for export, and 
        labor provisions are subject to the same dispute settlement procedures 
        as all other obligations: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the United States 
should initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with 
Tunisia.
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