Tunisia: State Wheat Monopoly vs Feed Demand Special Rules for Wheat Bran

This report contains an unofficial translation of Tunisian Decree No. 2013-1293 on the organization and control of wheat bran distribution, including controls on the supply of wheat bran derived from wheat imported under the temporary admission procedure. The significance of this policy is, on one hand, a consequence of Tunisia’s state monopoly, which strictly regulates the import, distribution and price of wheat in an attempt to achieve rural and bread policy objectives, and on the other hand, Tunisia’s industrial livestock and poultry sector. Tunisian imports of wheat range annually from $300 to 600 million, including roughly 10 percent through the temporary import regime. In total, U.S. wheat market share ranges from 0 to 4 percent in any given year and currently depends solely on private company purchases under the temporary admission procedure as a result of the Tunisian state monopoly’s burdensome tender specifications, which discriminate against U.S. wheat classes and grades. Tunisia additionally imports $15 million of wheat bran, none of which is sourced from the United States. 

Tunisia: State Wheat Monopoly vs Feed Demand Special Rules for Wheat Bran