If successful, the moves could result in no tariff on Ecuador shrimp exported to the European Union and would also ease the entry of shrimp into Brazil.
Minister of Foreign Trade, Francisco Rivadeneira, reported this week to the representatives of the shrimp sector that he seeks to eliminate the tariff on Ecuador shrimp to the EU.
This is part of the advances in the second round of negotiations for a trade agreement with the EU, which were held last week in Manta.
“If there is a winning sector if we close talks with the EU, is the shrimp,” he said.
Since 1971, the EU has had rules ensuring that exporters from developing countries pay lower duties on some or all of what they sell to the EU, under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme.
Prior to the meeting, Jose Antonio Camposano, president of the National Chamber of Aquaculture, said the signing of the trade treaty with the EU is essential for the shrimp industry, because Ecuadorian shrimp, which currently enjoys GSP preferences with a 3.6% tariff for raw shrimp, would see the tariff go to 12% if no agreement is reached.
Ecuador has a 0% tariff on processed shrimp, as it is a GSP+ country. If it was not, the tariff would have gone from from 7% to 20% for processed shrimp, as has happened with Thailand.
The EU, on the other hand, reports that the meeting in Manta, Ecuador made progress towards the conclusion of the deal.
The proposal is for Ecuador to join the existing trade agreement between the EU and Columbia and Peru.
According to the European Commission, negotiators focused on four areas: trade in goods, services, access to government tenders and protection of geographical indications.
The round brought results in all these areas and significantly reduced the number of open issues. Nevertheless, some important matters are still on the table which will be discussed in a third round of talks.
The trade agreement signed in 2012 has been applying to trade with Peru since March 1, 2013 and with Colombia since Aug. 1, 2013.
The agreement opens up markets for European, Colombian and Peruvian exporters and could save them more than €500 million per year. Ecuador seems likely to join this agreement.
Camposano also said that the government should look at easing shrimp export barriers to Brazil. Brazil imports about 30,000 metric tons of shrimp per year, despite being a producing country itself.
Another request was that the release of the Ecuadorian shrimp exports to Brazil is managed. Camposano added that this nation, despite being a producer of shrimp, has a deficit of 30,000t.
Minister Rivadeneira confirmed that talks with Brazil on trade in both tuna and shrimp from Ecuador had begun.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
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