RP, EU set to sign agreement on tuna

Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II said yesterday the European Union (EU) and the Philippines are set to sign on April 2 an agreement which would grant special quota for canned tuna shipments from the country and other ASEAN countries.

Roxas said the signing of the special quota agreement has been scheduled during the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) meeting in Cambodia.

The special quota agreement would allow canned tuna exports from the Philippines and ASEAN countries at a still undisclosed rate. The current tariff rate being slapped on Philippine canned tuna is 24 percent.

"The special quota agreement, however, is still to be approved by the 15 EU members," Roxas said.

The DTI chief said the approval is expected to be given before he meets with EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy in Cambodia next month.

Roxas said it is rare for the EU members to reject a deal recommended by its mediator body.

The Philippines had filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the EU’s preferential treatment for tuna coming from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations.

Along with the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia are expected to benefit from the special quota agreement.

Meanwhile, the EU is urging ASEAN countries to manufacture products with more added value rather than just concentrate on exports of fresh fruits and seafoods.

According to GSP administrator from the European Commission’s directorate-general for trade, access to the EU market has already been boosted with the recent approval of the EU’s Generalized Scheme for Tariff Preferences (GSP) for 2002-2004.

Under the EU GSP, certain products are allowed duty-free access to the European markets.

"However, the Philippines and its ASEAN neighbors should work together to come up with more value added products," Casella said.