Source: Fish and Information Services
Ecuador is looking forward to the decision of the House of Representatives and of the US Senate regarding the extension of the Andean Trade Preferences Act and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA).
Since last February, when the tariff preferences expired, US importers opted to reduce their purchases of Ecuadorian tuna and to look for other alternatives, such as the Thai market.
This change occurred when the tuna in poaches produced in Ecuador, for which tariffs were not paid to enter the US market, began to be subjected to a tariff of 12.5 percent.
With the US Parliamentarians’ imminent decision, the Ecuadorian exporters of tuna, among other products, expect to recover their participation in that market.
If the extension of the ATPDEA takes place, the tariffs charged during these months must be returned by the United States, reported El Comercio.
Three months ago, the same newspaper revealed that in the first four months of 2011 the export of tuna in oil was slightly reduced.
According to AgustÃn Jiménez, president of the tuna firm Empesec S.A., tuna in oil is no longer processed as in previous years because a 35 percent tariff has to be paid.
“Now we export tuna in water because it is subjected to a 12.5 percent tariff. Almost no firm delivers tuna in oil due to its high tariffs. We all hope to achieve a renewal in July of the preferences to continue the production,†said the tuna sector businessperson by the end of June.