Yesterday, Europêche held a constructive meeting with Mrs María Martin-Prat, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade, and her team covering Asia and trade policy coordination. The dialogue focused on securing fair market conditions for EU seafood producers in ongoing trade negotiations — particularly with Thailand and North Atlantic partners — and ensuring that fisheries’ competitiveness, sustainability and social standards are not undermined by trade liberalisation.

Javier Garat, President of Europêche, stated: “We strongly support open and rules-based trade, but not at the expense of the future of our fishers. The EU cannot continue to tighten sustainability obligations on its own fleets while granting duty-free access to products caught or processed under far lower environmental and social conditions. Stronger coordination between DG TRADE and DG MARE is essential to ensure that trade policy upholds the same sustainability and social standards that guide the EU’s fisheries policy and guarantees a true level playing field.”

EU- Thailand Free Trade Agreement between: Prevent unfair competition from low-standard tuna

Thailand is one of the world’s largest tuna processors, producing around 450,000 tonnes annually yet exporting only about 10,000 tonnes to the EU due to existing tariffs. Europêche warned that eliminating or relaxing these tariffs under a future FTA would seriously distort competition, as tuna processed in Thailand often originates from fleets with weak labour and environmental standards, raising risks of IUU fishing and forced labour, but also production costs. It is twice more costly to catch one ton of tuna on a European vessel than on South-East Asian ones.

Europêche calls for applying extremely strict rules of origin, applying only to wholly obtained tuna and excluding cumulative rules, imposing binding ratification of ILO Fundamental Conventions 87 as a precondition for tariff benefits. Equally important is applying enhanced traceability and origin labelling to ensure EU consumers know the true source of imported tuna: the flag of the vessel and catch area.

Trade and Cooperation Agreement with United Kingdom: Ensure post-Brexit mutual access and fairness in marine environmental policies

Europêche welcomed the extension of reciprocal fishing access until 2038 under the EU–UK agreement but expressed concern over new Marine Protected Area restrictions. First implemented in Scottish waters and now projected in Southern UK waters, the impact of these measures falls disproportionately on European vessels, which suffer nearly five times greater economic losses compared to UK vessels operating in the same areas. The organisation urged the Commission to ensure that MPA measures remain proportionate, non-discriminatory and compliant with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), and to press the UK to reopen the sandeel fishery unjustifiably closed to EU vessels. DG TRADE showed interest in the concerns raised by Europêche and encouraged continued dialogue with DG MARE. The Directorate also expressed interest in receiving additional technical information to further inform its assessment of the issues.

Norway and Coastal States: Protect the EU market from catches originated from unilateral overfishing of shared stocks

Europêche denounced the unilateral quota increases by Norway, the Faroe Islands and Russia on key pelagic stocks, especially mackerel, herring and blue whiting, which have caused overfishing and a 70% drop in mackerel catches for next year. The organisation called on the Commission to trigger the EU’s new Regulation on unsustainable practices against these actions and to also tackle the import of Russian-caught cod transiting through Norway that arrive to our market tariff free.

Furthermore, Europêche believes that time has come to look into the possibility of amending the fisheries cooperation agreement with Norway in a way that ensures EU-fishers access to Norwegian waters even if quotas are not in place by the first of January. This approach should be considered within a broader context of EU-Norway trade and cooperation.

New EU-Morocco trade and fisheries agreement: Preserving a strategic partnership and sustainable fisheries

Europêche welcomes the new EU mandate to negotiate a fisheries agreement with Morocco, a strategic partner for sustainable, science-based fisheries management and food security. For Europêche it is fundamental that future fishing opportunities reflect the good performance and sustainability of stocks in recent years, particularly the pelagic fishery. The sector urges the Commission to base future arrangements on scientific evidence and mutual economic benefit.

United States: Ensure reciprocal market access

The 15% tariff on EU seafood has created a new trade barrier, causing significant economic harm to European companies, while US exporters continue to enjoy duty-free access for a wide range of seafood products. Europêche called on the Commission to secure equivalent tariff exemptions for key European exports such as bluefin tuna, scallops, and hake, ensuring a level playing field and fair competition across the Atlantic. DG TRADE acknowledged that the 15% tariff represents a negotiated compromise, yet expressed openness to hold a technical meeting.

Autonomous Tariff Quotas: Prevent unfair competition

While access to non-EU raw materials is essential where there is no or insufficient EU production, tariff derogations such as Autonomous Tariff Quotas (ATQs) must be strictly linked to sustainability criteria and excluded for tuna, in order to safeguard fair competition and the long-term competitiveness of EU fleets.

Due Diligence: Equal rules for EU and non-EU operators

Europêche expressed concern that reporting obligations for non-EU operators have been postponed indefinitely, while EU fleets and processors will face these requirements from 2027. This asymmetry would undermine the level playing field and distort competition. Europêche urged the Commission to ensure that due diligence rules apply simultaneously and equally to all companies placing seafood on the EU market, regardless of origin.

WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement

Europêche stresses that the next phase must allow essential fleet renewal, safeguard the EU’s sustainable funding model and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements, and enable vital support measures during crises such as COVID or Ukraine.

Press contacts:

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 489 26 81 07 daniel.voces@europeche.org

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director +33 6 78 11 63 01: anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

EP Press Release – Meeting DG TRADE

Autonomous tariff quotas (ATQs) allow imports up to a given quantity to enter the EU market at a lower or zero tariff. For most fishery products, the in-quota tariff is set at zero. Given that tariffs can reach up to 25%, the ATQ system substantially lowers the cost of raw materials for Europe’s fish processing industry. However, the European Commission is clear: ‘Currently, tariff-free access applies on a first-come first-served basis for specific quantities of fisheries products, with no sustainability conditions attached. This raises questions related to the possible impacts on the conservation and management of the concerned fish stocks from non-EU fisheries, social and trade matters, as well as the competitiveness of the EU fishing sector. The Commission is therefore considering potential adjustments to address the sustainability of imported fishery products under the ATQ regime.’

While tariff derogations can and must support the EU processing industry, they must not come at the expense of fair competition or sustainable practices. Today, the ATQ regime allows duty-free access to over 900,000 tonnes of imported seafood annually—without applying the environmental and labour standards EU fishers are required to meet.

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche, states: “The EU trade policy is one of the most powerful tools to ensure fair competition and promote sustainability in global fisheries. The EU cannot preach sustainability at home while turning a blind eye to imported products that do not meet the same standards—especially when those products benefit from tariff exemptions. It’s time to close this loophole and make sustainability a prerequisite for tariff advantages.” He adds: ”In a new era marked by global tariff tensions, the EU must deploy its trade tools—such as the ATQ—strategically, granting tariff benefits with purpose and leveraging them to strengthen its geopolitical influence, not simply handing them out to the first applicant on a first-come first-served basis.”

The tuna sector exemplifies the problem. Xavier Leduc, Chair of Europêche tuna Group, highlights one of these loopholes: “The case of tuna is especially shocking: the EU grants each year 35,000 tons of duty-free tuna loins, used essentially from Asian countries where there are well documented cases of labour abuses and illegal fishing. These imports flood the market in a matter of days, distort prices, and directly harm the competitiveness of our fleet”.

Europêche proposes five key priorities for reforming the ATQ system:

1. Mandatory sustainability criteria for a level playing field between EU production and imports – Duty-free access must be conditional on compliance with core international standards on fisheries governance, labour rights and environmental protection.
2. Exclusion of IUU-linked countries – Nations involved in IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing or in serious labour violations must be denied tariff benefits.
3. Support for EU production – The system should serve the genuine needs of EU processors without displacing EU catches or undercutting EU-based jobs.
4. Reciprocity and fairness – Preferential market access should be linked to reciprocal fishing opportunities and fair treatment of EU fleets, especially in cases involving countries like Norway.
5. Alignment with EU values – The ATQ regime must be coherent with broader EU policies, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the new Fisheries Control Regulation and relevant trade sanctions (e.g. against Russian seafood).

Javier Garat, President of Europêche, concludes: “ATQs should strengthen, not erode, Europe’s strategic autonomy in fisheries. The Commission now has a real chance—and responsibility—to create a regime that promotes sustainable fisheries, fair trade and long-term food sovereignty. Right now, the EU is granting tariff exemptions to products from countries with questionable practices such as China, with no merit or justification other than to lower the price for EU importers. This has to stop.”

Press contacts:

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 489 26 81 07 daniel.voces@europeche.org

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director: anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

EP Press Release – ATQ Public Consultation

Europêche does not oppose a rational tariff free setting for certain fishery products that are not sufficiently produced in the EU. However, fish stocks have significantly recovered over the last decade, securing fish supply in Europe, whilst maintaining the highest socio-economic and environmental standards.

Precisely, several sustainability standards are mandated in trade agreements with third countries to enable the potential for tariff reductions. However, the ATQ system completely ignores the principle of sustainability. Take, for instance, the tuna industry, where a significant portion of tuna loins are imported from Thailand and China at zero duty. These countries however have a well-documented history of engaging in IUU fishing practices and labour abuses. Europêche argues that the sole motivation behind the use of ATQs in this and other cases is to drive down prices which in turn rewards unsustainable practices and results in unfair competition. Consequently, the ATQ system compels the EU catching sector to lower prices and seek alternative markets. It also disrupts links with longstanding partners from African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) that not only endure discriminatory treatment but also suffer from the loss of valuable market opportunities.

Javier Garat, President of Europêche, declared: “We cannot accept that the EU champions products of dubious origin and fishing conditions while our industry struggle to rapidly adapt to ever-stricter sustainability standards.”

According to Europêche, many of the latest European Commission’s fisheries and environmental policies are grounded on the urgent need to tackle climate change and biodiversity decline. However, the sector wonders why such approach is not being applied to the ATQ system. Mr Garat added: “It is shocking that while the EU fleet is decimating due to geopolitical factors and EU policies, ATQ volumes do not stop to grow. We wonder if the idea is to replace EU production with imports from countries far from EU sustainability standards. Is this the definition of food security pursued by the EU?

The ATQ system does not differentiate between fish originating from any country. For instance, high volumes of Russian pollack and cod receive tax derogations. This raises both political and ethical concerns regarding the continued provision of trade preferences to these fish products, especially considering that the EU has severed ties with Russia and even imposed bans on specific seafood imports into our market. Besides, how can the Commission propose bottom fishing bans in the EU while still supporting large-scale imports from controversial non-EU bottom trawling fisheries?

Mr Garat concluded: “Rewarding those who have done little for fish stock sustainability and fair treatment of people, including those involved in IUU fishing and serious labour abuses, with preferential market access is no longer acceptable. The European market demands nothing less than high standards and expects fleets from all countries to operate with the same level of sustainability as European fleets. This is essential to ensure fair competition within the market.”

The EU fishing industry urges the Commission to employ the ATQ system to counterbalance unsustainable and irresponsible practices in the Northeast Atlantic, such as those observed by Norway and the Faroe Islands. Their overfishing of Atlantic mackerel and their continuous challenge to the well-established historical rights of the EU fleet whilst demanding higher access to our market necessitate action.

In this context, it is essential for the EU to utilize trade preferences and leverage its market power to safeguard and advance the interests of the EU fishing fleet within the framework of fishing and trade agreements with third countries. By doing so, the EU can protect the sustainability of our waters and ensure fair competition.

Press contacts:

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 489 26 81 07 daniel.voces@europeche.org

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director: anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

EP Press Release – ATQ