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) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
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