Tunisia Trade Deficit Reaches Record Level

Tunisians walk at the Kasba souk in the old town of Tunisia April 2, 2012. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
Tunisians walk at the Kasba souk in the old town of Tunisia April 2, 2012. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
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Tunisia Trade Deficit Reaches Record Level

Tunisians walk at the Kasba souk in the old town of Tunisia April 2, 2012. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
Tunisians walk at the Kasba souk in the old town of Tunisia April 2, 2012. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Tunisia’s trade deficit reached at the end of 2017 a record level of 15.5 billion Tunisian dinars ($6.2 billion), the National Institute of statistics (INS) said.

The trade deficit widened by 23.5 percent year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2017 to 14.362 billion Tunisian dinars ($5.81 billion), central bank data showed in December.

The record level was mainly due to the rise in the trade deficit of the oil sector, which stood at 4 billion dinars (25.9% of the overall deficit).

The trade balance deficit, excluding energy, edged down to 11.5 billion dinars, INS said.

It reflects an imbalance in trade with countries such as China and Turkey.

Tunisia has been witnessing a wave of protests demanding the government reverse austerity measures.



Lebanon Central Bank Signs Deal with US Risk Management Advisory Firm to Combat Illegal Activity

A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon January 12, 2023. (Reuters)
A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon January 12, 2023. (Reuters)
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Lebanon Central Bank Signs Deal with US Risk Management Advisory Firm to Combat Illegal Activity

A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon January 12, 2023. (Reuters)
A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon January 12, 2023. (Reuters)

Lebanon's central bank signed an agreement on Monday with US risk management advisory firm K2 Integrity aimed at combating illegal activities and fraud, according to a statement.

The agreement is part of the central bank's efforts to come off the global financial crime watchdog FATF's "grey list" of countries under special scrutiny.

FATF placed Lebanon on the list last October.