EU's dissent over PH government may lead to the end of a trade agreement with regard to import and export of tuna

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The country’s biggest tuna canneries are worried about losing their biggest market because of international politics after majority of lawmakers in the European Union (EU) voted to use trade to express their dissent over the worsening state of human rights under the Duterte administration. The Tuna Canners Association of General Santos City said its backup plans were not enough to fill the absence that the EU would leave, if the bloc decides to stop a conditional trade perk that has allowed zero tariff entry for more than 6,000 product lines—including tuna—since late 2014. The trade concession is called the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (EU GSP+). The Philippines entered the arrangement knowing well the conditions attached to it. After all, the GSP+ is more than just a trade tool. It is also a way for the EU to encourage developing countries like the Philippines to pursue sustainable growth since this perk is tied to how the beneficiary commits to international conventions on human rights, labor rights, environmental protection and good governance. The GSP+ has significantly benefited many Philippine exporters, including tuna canneries, since they could now compete with other markets that also sell to the EU duty free. However, Philippines accounted for only 7% of the tuna imports of the EU, this year. This is the third time that the EU Parliament called on the European Commission to temporarily remove the GSP+ in the Philippines under the Duterte administration, with the last two resolutions filed in 2017 and 2018 over similar concerns over human rights. But this time, the latest resolution, voted by majority of EU’s lawmakers, alleged more abuses under the current administration from the reported murder of red-tagged activists, fatal blows against media freedom and the move to reinstate death penalty in the Philippines. Philippine government, however, does not seem worried.