WRITTEN QUESTION P-0570/02 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Imports of tinned tuna from Thailand and the Philippines.
Date: 2002-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Philippines, Thailand, fish, import, originating product, preserved product, tariff preference

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/63

(2002/C 277 E/067)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0570/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Imports of tinned tuna from Thailand and the Philippines

During the Fourth World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference held in November 2001 in
Doha and in the course of the negotiations intended to secure approval of the waiver which is needed if
the EU is to be granted the necessary authorisation allowing it to maintain tariff preferences with the ACP
countries, Thailand and the Philippines made their votes conditional upon improved access for their tinned
tuna to the Community market. The EU Commissioner responsible for trade, Pascal Lamy, undertook to
carry out a study into the possibility of bringing about such an improvement.

Could the Commission say what stage has been reached in that study and whether or not the EU is willing
to grant improved access for tinned tuna from Thailand and the Philippines?

Could the Commission report on the trends which have been recorded over the last five years in EU sales
of tinned tuna from the ACP countries, the GSP-drug countries, Thailand and the Philippines?

Is the Commission aware that any reduction in the customs tariffs applicable to tinned tuna from Thailand
and the Philippines would seriously harm the EU’s tuna sector (which provides much employment in the
EU) and threaten European investment, both private and public, in the ACP and GSP-drug countries?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(19 March 2002)

The Commission is in the process of carrying out the promised consultations. The commitment given was
to examine the claims of Thailand and the Philippines that their legitimate interests were unduly impaired
as a result of the implementation of the preferential tariff treatment for canned tuna originating in African,
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states.

The Commission has examined the situation of the tuna industry in general and has gathered pertinent
information on imports into the Community of canned tuna from all sources, especially ACP states as well
as Thailand and the Philippines, since 1987. The Commission has also studied information provided by
Thailand and the Philippines on their exports to the Community and has met with authorities from those
countries twice to discuss the information provided and to seek clarification on the information.

The Commission is currently analysing the situation as presented by Thailand and the Philippines and is
taking into account information and opinion provided by other parties. A third round of consultations is
expected to take place in the coming weeks, following which the Commission will draw up a report on its
findings.

A table on imports of canned tuna into the Community over the last five years (excluding tuna loins and
bonito) is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

The Commission is aware that the Community’s tuna sector is an important one and that its viability is
assured by a fine balance between producers, importers and exporters and is also conscious of European,
and local, investment interests in ACP and other third countries.