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) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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