Overview
Top trading partners
- Suppliers: Norway, China, Morocco, Ecuador
- Customers: United States, United Kingdom, Norway, China
Objectives
The EU aims to ensure an appropriate supply for its market through measures such as international trade agreements and autonomous tariff quotas (ATQs). These initiatives focus on balancing the interests of EU consumers and industry, with an ambition to promote sustainable fisheries.
EU trade
The EU is a net importer of fisheries and aquaculture products, mainly in frozen, fresh, and chilled forms. In 2023, the EU imported 5.9 million tonnes worth €30.1 billion. This figure includes fish caught and landed by EU vessels outside Europe. Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands are the leading importing EU countries.
Exports to non-EU countries amounted to €8.1 billion and 2.2 million tonnes, with Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany being the main exporters.
EU bilateral trade agreements
EU trade agreements set terms for foreign fisheries products entering the EU market and support EU exports. They aim to balance the needs of EU consumers, the fishing industry and the fish processing sector. Some 50% of EU fisheries imports benefit from preferential conditions under the EU free trade agreements.
They also play a role in promoting sustainable growth both within the EU and with partner countries. These agreements contain rules on trade and sustainable development, including rules related to sustainability of living marine resources and aquaculture products.
Autonomous tariff quotas (ATQs)
The EU establishes ATQs every three years, allowing certain quantities of fish and fish products to be imported at reduced tariff rates. Some 8% of EU fisheries imports benefit from that regime.
Council regulation 2023/2720 provides ATQs in the fisheries sector for the 2024-2026 period. The regulation opens 31 quotas covering unprocessed and semi-processed fisheries products needed for the EU’s processing sector. Most products have zero tariffs, lowering costs for EU processors, enhancing food security, and keeping prices competitive for EU consumers.
ATQs apply on a first-come, first-served basis for specific quantities of fisheries products. There are currently no sustainability conditions, which raises concerns about the impact on fish stock conservation, social issues, and the competitiveness of the EU fishing industry. The EU is therefore exploring ways to incorporate sustainability into the ATQ process.
Feedback from stakeholders, including the call for evidence and the public consultation, will feed into the evaluation of the current regime and the impact assessment of potential future policy options, which are conducted back-to-back. Any changes will be based on these evaluations to ensure responsible and sustainable import practices.
WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies
The EU supports the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the first global trade agreement focused on sustainability. It was concluded at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022 and includes
- prohibition of government subsidies for illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing
- prohibition of subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas
- prohibition of subsidies for fishing the most vulnerable fish stocks
- provisions addressing the harmful practice of reflagging fishing vessels to other jurisdictions
- extensive transparency and notification provisions to monitor the agreement's implementation
This agreement aims to make sustainability the core goal of fisheries subsidies, protecting the ocean and fish stocks vital to worldwide coastal communities. It will take effect when two-thirds of the 164 WTO members approve it. In June 2023, the EU submitted its acceptance, moving the agreement closer to reality and advancing the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 14.6.
The WTO members are working on additional measures to fully support the goal, including banning subsidies that lead to overfishing and overcapacity.