Tunisia has been able to take first place among olive oil exporters to the United States, said agricultural policy expert Faouzi Zayani, stressing that this product could serve as a gateway for the marketing of other agricultural goods, in addition to traditional industries.
In a statement to the program “Expresso”, he explained that the U.S. market is one of the most promising and developed compared to other markets, noting that Tunisia exports around 26% of its olive oil to the United States.
However, the 25% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration threaten this vital sector and undermine its competitiveness.
Zayani emphasized the need for “wise” negotiations between Tunisia and the United States to safeguard Tunisia’s interests, as well as the importance of diversifying trade partnerships with other markets such as Morocco and Egypt, despite the tariffs they impose.
He also criticized the lack of a clear strategy for storing Tunisian olive oil, given the reduced capacity of the National Olive Oil Board.
He called for concrete solutions and urged avoiding outdated generalities. He stressed that coordinated national efforts have become essential to support and energize the olive oil sector, as it is one of the main sources of foreign currency for the Tunisian economy.
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