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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
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