The Brazilian Fishing Industry Association (Abipesca) charged the Brazilian government for prioritizing the reopening of the European market for national fish in an alternative to exports to the United States. The reinforcement of the request occurs after the United States announced an additional 50% tariff on Brazilian products from August 1, which should affect the shipments of Brazilian fish to the US market.
“The slowness of this deal, at times like this, demonstrates the importance of reducing dependence on specific markets for Brazilian fish,” the entity said in a statement.
Exports of Brazilian fish to the European bloc were suspended in 2018 by the Ministry of Agriculture itself, on the recommendation of the European health authorities. The end of the embargo is one of the main demands of the productive sector to the Lula government. Now, the sector wants the priority of the resumption of export of Brazilian fish to the European Union (EU) as an alternative for commercial flow direction to the United States that can be affected with the fare.
Main destination
The United States is the main destination for Brazilian fish exports, representing 70% of shipments, with more than $ 240 million per year. “This 50% increase in the fare will have a significant impact, especially in the fish sector in Brazil, directly affecting industrial activities of aquacal products and causing significant losses to the sector that, unlike other proteins, has marketing restrictions,” argues Abipesca.
The entity also asked the Brazilian government to adopt “cautious and diplomatic approach” to resolve the issue with the United States. “Avoiding confrontations or retaliatory measures that can aggravate the situation. Considering the importance of the American market for the sector, it is essential to prioritize negotiation and seek economic solutions that benefit Brazil, ensuring the preservation of thousands of jobs and the maintenance of the sector’s economic stability,” said Abipesca, in a statement signed by the president, Eduardo Lobo.
