EU Reject Request To Review Asian “Single Dutyâ€ff
16 April 2003
Seychelles
Seychelles’ request for the EU (European Union) to make an in-depth study into the impact on the economies of ACP (African Caribbean Pacific) countries, of the proposal made by the WTO to reduce duties on tuna from Asian Nations, was rejected by the EU representative at the 5th Joint ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly last week.
According to Mr. Faure, Member of the Seychelles National Assembly, any concession approved by the EU in favor of its competitors will have adverse effects on Seychelles' canned tuna industry and export.Faure said that Seychelles and other ACP countries exporting canned tuna to Europe, as well as its traditional European allies, have been putting pressure on the EU against giving concessions to Philippines and Thailand.
During the parliamentary assembly representatives from ACP countries resolved to continue supporting Seychelles in its endeavor to postpone the EU Council's decision.
The government of Seychelles is awaiting the EU's final decision with regard to its position towards Thailand and Philippines' demand that they also benefit from concessions on canned tuna export to EU countries.
Faure said that the Cotonou Agreement adopted in Benin three years ago stipulated that the ACP countries would no longer benefit from commercial preferential concessions on canned tuna export to Europe as from 2008.
Faure said, Seychelles is exempted from taxation on its canned tuna exported to the European market, a concession that its two main competitors, Thailand and Philippines, have voiced their concern against.
Unfortunately for Seychelles, Faure noted, the proposal for the Asian tuna reduction had in principle received the approval of the EU Commission, but remained to be sanctioned by the EU Council for it to become a binding agreement. In the meantime, he said, Seychelles would have to strive harder to boost the productivity of its canned tuna industry so as to become more competitive.
