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Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Include fisheries, aquaculture in foreign trade missions, gov't urged
IN A bid to sustain its position in the huge global market, tuna industry leaders here urged the government to include fisheries and aquaculture in the continuing trade negotiations with major trading countries like China, Japan, United States and European Union member-nations.
Marfenio Tan, president of the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing Associations and Allied Industries, said various tariff and non-tariff barriers being faced by local tuna products in the international markets are hampering the growth and expansion plans of the tuna industry.
"To sustain the competitive advantage of the tuna industry and help ensure its long-term sustainable development, there is a need to continually lobby for the resolution of key international trade issues affecting the industry," Tan said.
Tan cited the need to lift the stringent requirements for the entry of the frozen smoked tuna in the European and Japanese markets and the further reduction of the 12 percent tariff imposed by EU on canned tuna products from the country.
Tan also proposed for the inclusion of the tuna products, particularly the canned and pouched tuna, in the Generalized Systems of Preference (GSP) list of the United States.
"It was proven in the past that through the collaborative efforts of the concerned government agencies and the industry, certain key trade issues were successfully lobbied in our favor such as the tariff reduction on our canned tuna exports to EU," Tan said.
The tuna industry is looking at the GSP as a means to gain increased market access for its canned tuna exports to the US, and to cushion the adverse impact of the grant of duty free treatment to pouched tuna products coming from Andean countries.
The inclusion of tuna in the GSP list would lower the current 10 to 30 percent tariff on canned tuna to at least five percent.
On the other hand, the frozen smoked tuna industry has been facing uncertainty due to the restrictions imposed by the Japanese government on the importation of fresh, chilled and frozen processed tuna.
The Japanese tuna market, with an estimated consumption of 50,000 tons a year, is valued at $300 million.
The country's processed frozen smoked tuna industry is a major export earner contributing some $50 million annually.
The industry contributes significantly to the country's foreign exchange, directly employs 1,500 plant workers and provides livelihood to thousands of fishermen. (Allen V. Estabillo)
(October 3, 2005 issue)
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