Tunisia and Libya are looking to develop trade and facilitate the flow of goods through the crossing
Joint ministerial discussions on removing procedural barriers to trucks and regulating the movement of goods through ferry carriers to serve economic operators in both countries.
Minister of Commerce and Export Development Samir Abed discussed with Minister of Economy and Trade in the Libyan National Unity Government, Sahel Bushiah, on 3 November 2026 in the city of Istanbul, promoting trade exchanges and developing working mechanisms across common border crossings. The meeting held on the sidelines of the 42nd session of the Standing Committee on Economic and Commercial Cooperation discussed ways of regulating trade and addressing procedural barriers to the inter-economic movement.
The two sides focused on mitigating the difficulties of the flow of goods, food and industrial products through land ports, primarily through the Ras Ghadir crossing and the Wazen Gold crossing. The Libyan market is a major trading destination and a vital source for absorbing exports and stimulating the economic movement of traders in the border areas shared between the two countries.
The Libyan side reviewed the system of pre-registration of importers and exporters and the regulated controls of business activity, announcing that time was given to traders to settle their legal status according to these procedures. Libyan officials have called on their counterparts to take temporary measures, including suspending exports of some goods and foodstuffs in order to prioritize the needs of the local market there and ensure price stability. These talks come as part of the Free Trade Agreement and Joint Customs Arrangements for the Movement of Goods and Free Zones, following a period of tightening controls and repeated slowdown in truck and trader traffic at border crossings, along with earlier contacts between the two leaders in September 2026 focused on lifting restrictions and revitalizing inter-boundary trade.
The two sides agreed to continue to complete the preparations for the meetings of the Joint High Commission during the next phase, as well as pursue projects related to free zones and the establishment of regional trade and logistics corridors to secure land freight traffic.