Yet a 260,000 metric ton limit per year on Alaska pollock imports remains, drawing continued concerns from Alaska pollock importers in the European Union, who will have to pay a 20 percent duty on any pollock imported above that limit.
“We don’t like these limits because these limits are uncertain," Guus Pastoor, president of the European association of fish processors and traders AIPCE-CEP, told IntraFish. "We don’t know if the limits will be reached, and then you don’t know if you are in or out. That’s why we say 'Why don’t we just keep the system as it is.'"
It is likely some pollock importers will be stuck paying a 7.5 to 20 percent duty. Over the last five years, the average volume of pollock imported into the European Union was 5,000 metric tons over the limit, at 265,000 metric tons. In 2008, the import volume reached 290,000 metric tons, a source in the industry told IntraFish.
Yet the new plan is of little concern to US Alaska pollock producers, the source said.
"Most people feel that the quota was set at such a high level that it's not really a concern," the source said, referring to the US pollock export industry.
Sentiments are different on the other side of the European Union border. As importers try to avoid getting stuck paying the duty, the new import quota could create a race for orders.
"In general, that's what this system leads to," Pastoor said. "That may be a nice thing for exporters, but on the other hand, it doesn't match the normal way the business goes...You would be forced to start buying in a speculative way just to try to make sure that you get a zero tariff."
AIPCE-CEP is working to convince member states to rethink the quota and hopes to meet with the commission to discuss it, he said. However, the commission may be past the stakeholder engagement period.
"The commission has consulted the stakeholders from November 2011 to May 2012," a spokesperson for the commission told IntraFish in an email. "Now, the proposal is in the council for the last round of discussions with the member states, and it is now the responsibility for the member states and the Commission to agree on a final proposal."
These plans are part of the EU's process of establishing autonomous tariff quotas (ATQ) for certain fish and fish products every three years. The quotas aim to help increase the supply of raw materials for the EU processing industry. Part of the goal of the current proposal is to keep supply at a consistent level.
European member states are expected to make a decision by the end of the year. If adopted, it would be in effect from January 2013 to December 2015.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States (1995–2025). In parallel with the nation's progress in international economic integration, bilateral seafood trade has followed a remarkably impressive growth trajectory, expanding from an initial scale of just tens of millions of US dollars to nearly $2 billion annually. This growth has positioned the United States as Vietnam’s largest seafood export market for many consecutive years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 12, 2025, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP) issued document 231/CV-VASEP regarding strengthening measures to combat IUU fishing and working with the Government to lift the EC's IUU yellow card warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is easy to farm and provides high economic and nutritional value, making it a sought-after export commodity in many countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in the first 10 months of 2025 recorded significant progress, reaching more than USD 9.5 billion, up 15% year-on-year. This result reflects the sector’s persistent efforts amid a highly volatile market, especially policy shocks from the US Although signs of slowdown emerged in the third quarter due to countervailing taxes, key product groups still maintained strong momentum and created a foundation for full-year exports to reach USD 11 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s agreement with the United States on a framework for reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade—reached during the 2025 ASEAN Summit in Malaysia—has generated strong optimism for Vietnamese exports, including tuna. Numerous positive points in the joint statement have raised high expectations for Vietnamese export goods, but turning these expectations into tangible benefits remains a long and challenging journey.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the conference on “Linking the Production and Consumption Chain of Ca Mau Crab 2025,” Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee Lê Văn Sử posed a central question: how to shift the province’s crab exports toward official trade channels, instead of relying heavily on small-scale border trade with China as currently practiced.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The whitefish market in Japan is showing a clear divergence among supplying countries, in which Vietnam continues to affirm its role as a stable and high-potential exporter. Vietnam currently ranks third after the US and Russia in whitefish export value to Japan. Thanks to tariff incentives and the ability to meet Japan’s strict standards, Vietnamese pangasius continues to record a stable and positive growth trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The People's Committee of Ca Mau Province has just issued a plan to expand the super-intensive, low-water-exchange, biosecure white-leg shrimp farming model (RAS-IMTA) for whiteleg shrimp farming to a scale of 1,500 hectares, aiming to develop high-tech, sustainable and environmentally friendly shrimp farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company (HNX: SGC) plans to issue over 7.1 million shares to raise nearly 465 Billion VND for Hoan Ngoc M&A Deal.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Rabobank, global tilapia production is forecast to exceed 7 million tons in 2025, driven by a strong recovery in major producing countries including China, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Among them, Vietnam is emerging as a potential tilapia supplier in the global supply chain, capitalizing on market fluctuations to expand production and exports.
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