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 - $40 billion in 2018.
Accounts for 27% of the world’s total fish and seafood imports.
Imports account for 57% of total EU fish and seafood consumption. *European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA), 2019
Consumption of fish and seafood in the EU was estimated at 24.35 kg per capita in 2017. *EUMOFA, 2019
Room for Canadian fish and seafood exports levels of $506 million (2018) 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
Table note Table note 1 Compared to EU 2016 MFN tariffs Return to Table note * referrer
Live Lobster (8%)^{Table Note } Frozen and fresh scallops (8%)^{Table Note } Frozen shrimp (12%)^{Table Note } Cooked and peeled shrimp in retail packages (20%)^{Table Note } Fresh or chilled hake (15%)^{Table Note } Dried and salted cod (13%)^{Table Note } Frozen herring (15%)^{Table Note } Frozen mackerel (20%)^{Table Note } Fresh or chilled halibut (15%)^{Table Note } Fresh mussels (8% or 10% depending on species)^{Table Note } Salmon (2% to 15% depending on species)^{Table Note } Processed salmon (5.5%)^{Table Note } Fresh/live crab (7.5%)^{Table Note } Frozen snow crab (7.5%)^{Table Note } Dogfish (6%)^{Table Note } Oysters (9%)^{Table Note }	3 Years: (January 1, 2020)
	Frozen lobster, whole (6%)^{Table Note } Frozen lobster, not whole (16%)^{Table Note } Frozen crab other than snow crab (7.5%)^{Table Note *}
	5 year: (January 1, 2020)
	Processed lobster (20%)^{Table Note } Prepared or preserved mussels (excl. Mytilus and Perna) (20%)^{Table Note }
	7 Years: (January 1, 2024)
	Cooked and peeled shrimp in wholesale packages or in airtight containers (20%)^{Table Note } Frozen fillets of cod (7.5%)^{Table Note } Prepared or preserved mussels (Mytilus and Perna) (20%)^{Table Note } Prepared or preserved bonito (25%)^{Table Note } Prepared or preserved crab (8%)^{Table Note } Processed fillets of trout, including smoked (9% and 12%)^{Table Note } Prepared or preserved tunas or skipjack (24%)^{Table Note *}

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	26.3%
China	7.0%
Morocco	5.0%
Ecuador	5.0%
Iceland	4.9%
Canada (16^th)	1.8%

Source: Eurostat (2018)

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.

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Date Modified:: 2020-01-13

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