The European Commission plans to launch negotiations this week on the draft free trade agreement between the European Union and Thailand, which is causing concern among the European tuna industry. On Monday 31 March, the Europêche organisation called for tuna products to be excluded from this trade agreement (see EUROPE 13404/9).
Thailand is the world’s leading producer and exporter of tuna (production of 470,000 tonnes of canned and prepared tuna). Currently, an average of 10,000 tonnes are exported to the EU each year, subject to a customs duty of 24%. If the agreement were to include tuna products, the exemption from these taxes would automatically lead to a massive influx of imports, notes Europêche.
In addition, Xavier Leduc, from Europêche, believes that “tuna loins and cans processed in Thailand from low-standard Asian fisheries pose a direct threat to sustainable European fleets, which face higher costs due to their rigorous control, social, and environmental standards”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)