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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
Shrimp has been the most important export product of Vietnam’s seafood industry for many years, typically accounting for 35–45% of the country’s total seafood export value. With a well-developed farming, processing, and export system, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters.
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