Message to the Senate Transmitting the Tunisia-United States Treaty Concerning the Reciprocal Encouragement and Protection of Investment

To the Senate of the United States:

With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Republic of Tunisia Concerning the Reciprocal Encouragement and Protection of Investment, with Protocol, signed at Washington on May 15, 1990. I transmit also, for the information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State with respect to this treaty.

The Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) program, initiated in 1981, is designed to encourage and protect U.S. investment. The treaty is an integral part of U.S. efforts to encourage Tunisia and other governments to adopt macroeconomic and structural policies that will promote economic growth. It is also fully consistent with U.S. policy toward international investment. That policy holds that an open international investment system in which participants respond to market forces provides the best and most efficient mechanism to promote global economic development. A specific tenet, reflected in this treaty, is that U.S. direct investment abroad and foreign investment in the United States should receive fair, equitable, and nondiscriminatory treatment. Under this treaty, the Parties also agree to international law standards for expropriation and compensation; to free financial transfers; and to procedures, including international arbitration, for the settlement of investment disputes.

I recommend that the Senate consider this treaty as soon as possible and give its advice and consent to ratification of the treaty, with protocol, at an early date.

George Bush

The White House,

May 17, 1991.