RP faces legal issues in bid to export tuna to EU

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," European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) executive vice president Henry Schumacher said yesterday.

According to Schumacher, the Philippines has more chances of getting into the EU market by continuing to pursue a lowering of EU tariff for Philippine canned tuna.

The Philippines has 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.