Fisheries and Aquaculture
October 11, 2006
Government Addressing
Tariff Issues With European Union
The Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of
Fisheries and Aquaculture, recently led a delegation of the province�s
seafood industry to the European Union to address a number of seafood
issues that will impact the future of our province�s industry. Included
in the delegation were representatives from the Association of Seafood
Producers, the Seafood Producers Association of Newfoundland and
Labrador (SPANAL) and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW).
Minister Rideout and the delegation met with Mr. J�rgen Holmquist, the
Director General of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs of the European
Commission in Brussels, Belgium, as well as senior officials from the
Directorate General for Trade. The minister also exchanged views with
the European Parliament�s Delegation for Relations with Canada. The
delegation consists of Members of the European Parliament, some of whom
plan to visit the province later this year.
�There are many global issues facing our province�s seafood industry.
Key among them is the tariffs on seafood going into the European Union.
We felt it was critical to go directly to the European Union to address
those issues and open up opportunities for importing more Canadian
seafood into the lucrative European marketplace,� said Minister Rideout.
�Based on our deliberations, I anticipate that short-term relief is
forthcoming on the shrimp tariff, and that the options discussed for a
long-term solution will prove to be meaningful as we move forward.�
While in Brussels, the minister received a briefing from the Canadian
Mission to the European Union. He met with the Canadian ambassadors to
Belgium and Luxembourg, and to the European Union. As well the minister
met with senior mission officials on fisheries and Canada-EU trade
negotiations. They provided an overview on a variety of global trade
issues related to seafood. The minister was also provided with
information on the EU�s main scientific research funding program which
could provide significant opportunities for collaborative fisheries
research between Canadian and EU scientists.
Minister Rideout said, �The meetings we held were productive in
addressing the important issues for the Newfoundland and Labrador
seafood industry. We were able to open up discussions on the key issues.
I�m optimistic that this will lead to better relations in the future and
provide an opportunity for open dialogue between our respective
governments.�
Media contact:
Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 690-8403
oatesll@gov.nl.ca
2006 10 11
4:25 p.m. |