,,iv  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #bdh  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,may #a1 #bjae ,mr4   
,pauls5 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2   
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,ways & 
,means  ,,resolution  ,express+ ! s5se (
 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives t ! ,unit$   
,/ates %\ld initiate prep>atory "w to   
beg9 negotiations to ent] into a free   
trade agreem5t ) ,tunisia4  ,:]eas !    
,arab ,spr+ has swept ?r\gh ,nor!rn     
,africa & ! ,middle ,ea/1 creat+ !      
greate/ opportunity 9 m ?an a g5]ation =
 true democratic developm5t 9 ! region2 
,:]eas ! result+ upheaval also creates  
enorm\s pot5tial = in/ability1 viol5ce1 
& p[] vacuums t c\ld be exploit$ by     
anti-democratic or extremi/ =ces2 ,:]eas
 a key influ5ce t drove prote/s came f  
,moham$ ,b\azizi1 a /reet v5dor :o set  
himself on fire to prote/ police        
int]f]5ce & a lack ( economic           
opportunities2 ,:]eas ,mr4 ,b\azizi's   
dea? 9 ,decemb] #bjaj became a rally+   
cry = m democracy & economic fre$om 9   

,tunisia2 ,:]eas demon/rations by !     
,tunisian p =c$ ,presid5t ,z9e el       
,abid9e ,b5 ,ali to flee ,tunisia on    
,janu>y #ad1 #bjaa1 aft] ov] #bc ye>s ( 
au?orit>ian rule2 ,:]eas ! political    
transition became kn[n z ! ,jasm9e      
,revolution2 ,:]eas national elections 7
 held on ,octob] #bc1 #bjaa1 to select a
 #bag-seat ,national ,con/itu5t         
,assembly2 ,:]eas ! ,octob] ,tunisian   
elections 7 widely prais$ by            
int]national election obs]v]s2 ,:]eas   
#ed p]c5t ( eligible vot]s p>ticipat$ 9 
! election2 ,:]eas ov] #aa1fjj c&idates 
p>ticipat$ 9 ! election2 ,:]eas disputes
 ov] re=m priorities1 economic crisis1  
labor unre/1 regional t5sion1 & l+]+    
insecurity are cont9u+ *all5ges2 ,:]eas 
,tunisia exhibits a numb] ( unique      
attributes 9 its region1 su* z a        
relatively small t]ritory1 a sizable &  
well-educat$ middle class1 & a long     
hi/ory ( enc\rag+ wom5's socioeconomic  
fre$oms2 ,:]eas _m view ,tunisia z a te/
 case = democratic transitions 9 its    

region2 ,:]eas damage f ! ,decemb]      
#bjaj-;,janu>y #bjaa unre/1 political   
unc]ta9ty1 turmoil 9 neighbor+ ,libya1 &
 economic crisis 9 ,europe h contribut$ 
to sev]e economic difficulties 9        
,tunisia2 ,:]eas ! ,islamic ,/ate (     
,iraq & ,syria 7,,isis7 has c>ri$ out   
attacks 9 ,tunisia & poses an increas+  
?reat to ! /ability ( ! nation2 ,:]eas  
jobs & liv+ /&>ds rema9 ! prim>y conc]n 
= mo/ ,tunisians2 ,:]eas if ! economic  
aspirations ( ! ,tunisian p are n       
realiz$1 ! pot5tial = anti-democratic or
 extremi/ =ces to exploit ! curr5t      
in/ability w only be magnifi$2 ,:]eas   
/rong1 su/a9$ economic gr[? & developm5t
 w\ld provide ! necess>y res\rces =     
,tunisia to build democratic in/itutions
 & solidify public support = democratic 
gov]nance1 z well z ensure /rong labor1 
environm5tal1 & human rights            
protections2 ,:]eas engagem5t ) ,tunisia
 9 prep>ation = trade negotiations w\ld 
enc\rage great] re=m1 includ+ !         
protection ( intellectual prop]ty1 &    

build its capacity to mod]nize &        
lib]alize its economy1 z well z provide 
maximum lev]age to facilitate !         
implem5tation ( /rong labor1            
environm5tal1 & human rights            
protections2 ,:]eas a vibrant1 /able1 & 
prosp]\s democracy 9 ! ,arab _w is 9 !  
int]e/ ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & w\ld fuel bo?
 economic & democratic developm5t       
?r\gh\t ! region2 ,:]eas 9 #bjac1 !     
,unit$ ,/ates 0 ,tunisia's ?ird l>ge/   
trad+ p>tn]2 ,:]eas ,unit$ ,/ates       
exports to ,tunisia 7 #hej million &    
,unit$ ,/ates imports f ,tunisia 7 #eba 
million 9 #bjad2 ,:]eas ,tunisia is an  
important m>ket = ,unit$ ,/ates gra91   
se$s1 & c]eal exports2 ,:]eas ,tunisia  
is an important s\rce ( oil1 fats & food
 oils1 & textiles = ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &  
,:]eas ,tunisia has be5 a memb] ( ! ,_w 
,trade ,organization s9ce #aiie3 ,n[1   
!re=e1 be x ,t x is ! s5se ( ! ,h\se (  
,repres5tatives t ! ,unit$ ,/ates %\ld  
initiate prep>atory "w to beg9          
negotiations to ent] into a free trade  

agreem5t ) ,tunisia4