EU tuna industry to fight Thailand trade deal

Europêche, the European fishing industry body, warns that removing the tariff currently imposed on the country would flood the European market with lower-standard products, destabilising the sector and threatening sustainable fishing practices.

“Tuna loins and cans processed in Thailand from low-standard Asian fisheries pose a direct threat to sustainable European fleets,” said Xavier Leduc, president of Europêche Tuna Group.

“A Free Trade Agreement with Thailand allowing duty-free tuna products into the EU would only deepen the existing imbalance, further disadvantaging European fleets and undermining fair competition.”

Significant deficiencies

Thailand, the world’s largest tuna exporter, currently faces a 24% tariff on its tuna exports to the EU. 

The European tuna industry adheres to strict sustainability and monitoring measures, with vessels subject to 24/7 tracking and environmental certifications.

Europêche said that in contrast, Thailand imports tuna from countries with weak sustainability controls and has faced criticism over human rights and labour violations.

Additionally, the European Commission’s 2023 audit found significant deficiencies in Thailand’s health and food safety standards.

Consequently, Europêche is calling for the exclusion of tuna from the trade agreement to prevent unfair competition and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

“The EU cannot block low-standard tuna entering the market, but it must not let it in duty-free,” stressed Anne-France Mattlet, director of Europêche Tuna Group.

The EU tuna fleet is facing significant challenges, as evidenced by the recent shutdown of Via Océan, formerly Saupiquet and Nicra 7 in 2024.

Europêche warns that these companies and similar are having to compete in international waters and markets with non-EU fleets that do not respect the same European standards.