Opportunities and Benefits of CETA for Canada’s Fish and Seafood Exporters
Why export to the EU?
- The world’s largest importer of fish and seafood products - $36.2 billion in 2016.
- Accounts for 27% of the world’s total fish and seafood imports.
- Imports account for 52.5% of total EU fish and seafood consumption.
- Per capita average annual consumption of 25.5 kg (2014).
- Room for Canadian fish and seafood exports levels of $555 million (2016) to increase with CETA.
How does CETA benefit Canadian fish and seafood exporters?
- Under CETA, almost 96% of EU tariff lines for fish and seafood products have become duty-free. 100% of these tariff lines will be duty-free after seven years.
- Before CETA, EU tariffs for fish and seafood averaged 11%, and could be as high as 25%.
Under CETA, almost 96% of EU fish and seafood tariff lines have been eliminated, in particular: | The remaining EU fish and seafood tariffs will be phased out over |
---|---|
| 3 Years: |
| |
5 year: | |
| |
7 Years: | |
|
CETA rules of origin matter
- To be eligible for preferential tariff treatment in the EU, fish and seafood products under HS Chapters 3 and 16 require that products be wholly obtained. This means, for Canada:
- Caught by Canadians fishing in Canadian waters, or
- Caught in the Canadian/European Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZs), in the high seas or in the EEZs of other countries by licensed Canadians using registered vessels that are entitled to fly the Canadian flag.
- Limited quantities of certain fish and seafood products processed in Canada using imported materials (from countries other than the EU) can qualify for preferential treatment in the EU for:
- Certain frozen fillets of halibut;
- Processed lobster;
- Prepared or preserved salmon;
- Processed herring;
- Processed shrimp; and
- Some types of prepared or preserved sardines and crab.
Other non-CETA related aspects to keep in mind when exporting fish and seafood products to the EU
- Fish and seafood exported to the EU must come from an approved establishment
- Catch certificate, issued by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, is required to demonstrate the product has been caught legally
- Labelling – new EU regulation came into force December 2014
- Health certificate from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency must accompany shipments
- Maximum Residue Levels (for example, cadmium in oysters), must be respected as per EU requirements
Top 5 Suppliers of Fish and Seafood to the EU | % of Import Market Share |
---|---|
Norway | 26.7% |
China | 7.0% |
Morocco | 5.1% |
Iceland | 4.7% |
Ecuador | 4.6% |
Canada (15th) | 1.8% |
Source: Eurostat (2016)
Under CETA, Canadian fish and seafood exporters can now enjoy the advantages created from the agreement over competitors based in countries that do not have a preferential trade agreement in force with the EU.
For more detail on how CETA benefits your company, contact a Trade Commissioner today.
Report a problem on this page
- Date Modified: