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) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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