Republic of Tunisia
Bilateral relations
Brazil was among the first countries to recognize the Independence of Tunisia in 1956. That year, Brazil opened its Consulate in Tunis and in 1961 it established its resident Embassy. Temporarily closed in 1999, the Brazilian Embassy was reopened in 2001 during the visit of the Brazilian Secretary General of Foreign Affairs to Tunis. On that occasion, the first session of the Brazil-Tunisia Joint Commission was held.
The reopening of the Embassy of Brazil marked the beginning of a growing bilateral rapprochement. An example of this was the increase in the flow of high-level visits. The following Brazilian Foreign Ministers visited Tunis: Celso Amorim (2005, 2008, and 2009), Antonio Patriota (2012), Mauro Vieira (2016), and Aloysio Nunes Ferreira (2018). On the Tunisian side, Foreign Ministers Habib Ben Yahia, Abdelwaheb Abdallah, and Khemaïes Jhinaoui visited Brazil in 2002, 2006, and 2017 respectively. During the visits of Ministers Abdallah and Jhinaoui, the second and third meetings of the Brazil-Tunisia Joint Mission were held.
The only meeting of Heads of State of Brazil and Tunisia was held in 2012 on the sidelines of the Third South America–Arab Countries Summit, in Lima.
Improved bilateral relations contributed to a diversified bilateral cooperation, which now covers areas such as social development, food safety, education, environment, and forest resources. A technical cooperation program is currently being carried out with the aim to develop and to improve the value of eucalypt plantations in Tunisia.
Bilateral trade
In 2019, trade between Brazil and Tunisia totaled nearly $279 million. Brazilian exports to Tunisia amounted to $219 million while imports from that country reached $60 million, accounting for a Brazilian surplus of $159 million. Main Brazilian exports were soybeans, sugar, and corn. Tunisia, in turn, exports to Brazil predominantly fertilizers and petroleum products.
Chronology of bilateral relations
| 2018 |
Minister of Foreign Affairs Aloysio Nunes Ferreira visits Tunisia |
| 2017 |
The Third Bilateral Joint Commission is held in Brazil (April) |
| 2016 | |
| 2015 |
The two countries agree to begin a technical cooperation project for Tunisian training in eucalyptus cultivation |
| 2014 |
Signing of the Framework Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between MERCOSUR and Tunisia (December) |
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Representative of the Brazilian Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) participates in the seminar "Towards an Inclusive and Integrated Social Protection System", organized by the Tunisian Ministry of Social Affairs in partnership with UNICEF and the ILO (Tunis, September) |
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A Tunisian interministerial mission organized by the World Food Program's Center for Excellence against Hunger visits Brazil with the objective of learning about the Brazilian School Feeding Program (April) |
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The Brazil-Tunisia Follow-up Committee meets in Tunis (April) |
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| 2012 |
Presidents Dilma Rousseff and Marzouki meet on the sidelines of the Third South America–Arab Countries Summit, in Lima (September) |
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Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Patriota visits Tunis (April) |
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| 2011 |
Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ambassador Paulo Cordeiro de Andrade Pinto visits Tunis |
| 2009 |
Foreign Minister Celso Amorim visits Tunis |
| 2008 |
Foreign Minister Celso Amorim visits Tunis |
| 2006 |
The Second Brazil-Tunisia Joint Commission holds a meeting in Brasília |
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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia Abdelwaheb Abdallah visits Brazil. On the occasion, an agreement on higher education cooperation is signed |
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| 2005 |
Foreign Minister Celso Amorim pays a working visit to Tunis |
| 2002 |
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, Habib Ben Yahia visits Brazil. On the occasion, agreements on technical cooperation and on cooperation between diplomatic academies of the two countries are signed |
| 2001 |
The First Bilateral Joint Commission meets in Tunisia |
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The Secretary General of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Luiz Felipe de Seixas Corrêa visits Tunis. On the occasion, a partial visa waiver agreement and a protocol for the creation of the political consultation mechanism are signed |
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Brazilian reopens Embassy in Tunis |
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| 1999 |
Brazil closes its Embassy in Tunis |
| 1990 |
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, Habib Boularès, visits Brazil. On the occasion, agreements on trade and on the establishment of a Joint Cooperation Commission are signed |
| 1968 |
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, visits Brazil. On the occasion, agreements are signed in the areas of culture and migration |
| 1961 |
Establishment of the Brazilian Embassy in Tunis |
| 1956 |
Brazil recognizes de Independence of Tunisia and opens its Consulate in Tunis |