The strategy of Ecuadorian tuna industrialists to obtain support for the negotiations in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with United States (US) has now become a political issue.
Last week, the representatives of the tuna sector were invited by the foreign secretary Mr. Francisco Carrion to Posorja (
Mr. Carrion, who was accompanied by the Sub Secretary of Fishing Sources Mr. Boris Kusijanovic, visited the facilities of Negocios Industriales Real (NIRSA), the second largest exporter of canned tuna, which has over USD 60 million in sales per year.
Mr. Cesar Rohon, President of the National Chamber of Fishery in Ecuador, stated that the Ecuadorian tuna industry needs political and diplomatic support to defend the interests of this sector in the different forums and negotiations made by Ecuador, especially in the FTA, as well as with the European Union (EU) and also with Chile.
Up until now, the tuna issue is still to be negotiated in the FTA, and will most probably be set back until the last round of negotiations, according to the tuna industrialists. “Therefore, it is very important that the foreign secretary, the political authorities, and the negotiators are well aware of the current condition of the tuna industry and the importance to defend it.