Seafood relief as UK and Norway strike deal
LONDON and Oslo have signed a new trade deal which allows the continued free movement of Norwegian seafood shipments into Britain.
Salmon farming companies and fishermen were worried that the UK’s exit from the
EU on January 31 could be interrupted by tariffs and red tape, even though Norway is not a member of the EU.
The development will come as a big relief to the Norwegian aquaculture sector, in particular, which has seen exports to China grinding to a halt over the coronavirus.
It is also been experiencing difficulties with Russia over claims that Norwegian salmon and trout sent via Belarus has been contaminated with a harmful chemical.
Last year, Norway sent the UK 159,000 tonnes of seafood worth NOK 6.4 billion (£530 million). Salmon alone was worth NOK 4 billion (£332 million).
Fisheries minister Geir Inge Sivertsen said: ‘During the transition period, trade in seafood will, for all practical purposes, continue as before.
‘The fisheries agreements Norway has with the EU, which also include the UK, will continue to apply until the end of 2020. From next year, we will need to put in place new fisheries agreements with the EU and the UK.’