The European Union (EU) has denounced “restrictive measures imposed on bilateral trade” without prior consultation with the EU, says a report released on the occasion of 10th session of Algeria-EU Association Council convened Monday in Brussels. In January 2016, Algerian authorities required import licenses for certain European products such as cars, cement and concrete. These “protectionist measures, taken without prior consultation with the EU, have been added to the already existing restrictions and obstacles to trade and investment”, stresses the EU document. Algeria took such measures following the fall in oil prices, which resulted in huge loss in revenues and deepened trade deficit of the North African country, member of the OPEC cartel. Though the legal framework criminalizes a large range of corruption offenses, corruption with impunity remains widespread in the country.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 14, 2017 18:00 UTC