The Philippines faces legal obstacles in its bid to gain access to the European Union (EU) market for its tuna through the EU Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
"Allowing the entry of Philippine tuna via the EU-GSP would contravene legal provisions of the EU’s agreement granting duty-free access to tuna from Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries," Henry Schumacher said yesterday.
The Philippines have protested with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the 24-percent tariff slapped by the EU on canned tuna coming from the Philippines and Thailand.
Schumacher said the EU is likely to just lower the existing tariff rate for canned tuna from the Philippines and Thailand, rather than grant the same duty-free access accorded to ACP countries.
The duty-free access is granted to the ACP countries because of their past colonial ties with several European countries.
"EU members appear to have softened their protectionist stand against Philippine and Thai canned tuna," Schumacher said.
Europe is the country’s third- largest tuna export market accounting for 15 percent of the total tuna exports, after the United States with 38 percent and (quite remarkably !) Singapore with 16 percent.