22% tariff for Philippine tuna if GSP+ removed

PRICES of fish exports will likely increase significantly if the European Union (EU) carries out its threat to remove the Philippines from its Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), making the country’s products less competitive.

“Without GSP+, tuna will be charged a 22% tariff… They’ll be paying more, so the price of our tuna should be higher,” said World Wildlife Fund ( WWF) marine scientist Jose D. Ingles in a chance interview after a forum at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City yesterday, adding that the removal of GSP+ privileges will also affect other fish that the country exports to the EU.

GSP+ removal will also have an adverse impact on the country’s fisherfolk as lesscompetitive prices will decrease the demand from importing countries, thereby increasing the supply of fish in the Philippines.

“It’s a cascading effect. Fishermen will realize lower prices for their catch,” said Mr. Ingles.

Meanwhile, the sardine industry is being threatened by over-fishing, according to Oceana Philippines.

Jimely Flores, senior marine scientist for Oceana, a non- government organization, added that the sardine industry is not going to be sustainable in the long run.

To address this, the government will be implementing a policy which would limit the catch volume of sardines.

“The consequences of this will be on the consumers,” said Mr. Ingles as the country should expect sardine prices to go up once the national plan for the sardine industry is implemented.

According to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Milagros C. Morales, the Sardine Fisheries Management Framework Plan will be launched in the third week of October 2017. —