In a statement over the weekend, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the country is “set to apply” for the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+).
Last year, the EU announced that certain exports from the Philippines, Pakistan and Ukraine may enter duty-free under the GSP+ starting next year, provided that they meet two conditions: first, the products comprise less than two percent of Europe’s GSP imports; and second, the said countries must have ratified and are abiding by 27 international conventions covering the environment, governance, human and labor rights, and sustainable development.
The Philippines is eyeing to qualify for the GSP+ in the next 10-year cycle from 2014 to 2023, as the existing EU GSP cycle ends in December.
The country is a beneficiary of the EU GSP, under which 2,442 products enter Europe duty-free while 3,767 are slapped lower tariffs.
Philippine exports enjoying zero or lower duties under the EU GSP include canned tuna, canned pineapples, crude coconut oil, dried/prepared pasta, edible parts of plants, activated carbon, imitation and other articles of jewelry, garments, semiconductors, tennis balls, and mattress support for bed frames.
Last year, Euro 1.076-billion or roughly P62.8-billion worth of Philippine shipments were granted preferential treatment under the EU GSP, with chemicals, live animals and animal products, vegetables, wood and articles of wood, and jewelry among the top beneficiaries.
If the country qualifies for GSP+, 6,274 products would be slapped zero tariff, allowing Philippine exports to the EU to grow by 12 percent alongside the creation of 270,000 new jobs, the DTI said.
Trade Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. said the DTI is already briefing exporters on the requirements and processes for the EU GSP+.
Cristobal said the garments and tuna sectors would most benefit from the trade scheme, so the DTI has already committed to assist these industries on non-tariff measures and rules of origin concerns under the EU GSP+.
The GSP+ would generate an additional 40,000 jobs in the garments sector within the first eight months, while the volume of canned tuna exports to the EU would rise 64 percent alongside jacking up the workforce by 70 percent, the DTI said.
Cristobal said the benefits of the EU GSP+ to the garments and tuna industries would redound to the whole manufacturing sector.
“The sustainability of the tuna and garments sectors will contribute significantly to the revival of the country’s manufacturing industry since these sectors account for more than 50 percent of the country’s industry labor force,” he said.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
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