Spain bucks lower tariff on RP tuna

Trade Undersecretary Thomas G. Aquino maintained over the weekend that Spain is one of the main oppositors to the Philippines’ bid for lower tariff on its tuna exports to European Union countries.

Spanish Deputy Foreign Minister Ramon Gil-Casares, who was in the country last week, had denied that Spain was opposing the country’s bid for lower EU tariffs on its tuna exports.

Gil-Casares said that the tuna issue was not even raised when he met with Department of Trade and Industry officials last week.

But Aquino explained that the tuna issue was never discussed with Gil-Casares because the Spanish deputy foreign minister "is not conversant" with the issue.

Aquino had earlier said that during a meeting with EU representatives on the tuna issue, the Philippines had gotten the support of the United Kingdom and Germany, while France, Spain and Portugal expressed their opposition.

Aquino said that he had conveyed to the Spanish EU representative that Spain’s lack of support "would put a serious strain on our relationship." He related that he even told the Spanish EU representative in jest that "we (Filipinos) might even have to change all our surnames."

Aquino clarified that the Philippines does not expect a zero tariff for Philippine tuna exports to EU countries, similar to the duty-free treatment for tuna from African, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

The Philippines, would be happy with a tariff of "close to zero," according to him.