Maldives, EU discuss tariff elimination via multinational org
Maldives has pursued negotiations with the EU and the UK, striving to eliminate the existing 20% tariff imposed on fish exports to both markets.
Maldives and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday discussed how Maldives' recent accession to the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) could provide for a tariff-free access to the EU market, including for tuna products.
Over the past four years, the Maldives has actively pursued negotiations with the EU and the United Kingdom, striving to eliminate the existing 20% tariff imposed on fish exports to both markets.
The latest negotiations were announced in a joint statement issued after fourth senior officials meeting that took place in Brussels on Tuesday.
At the meeting chaired by Maldives state foreign minister Ahmed Khaleel and Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and Pacific at the European External Action Service, the EU congratulated the Maldives on its accession to the OACPS and welcomed the country among the signatories of the new EU-OACPS Agreement, which will further enhance the EU-Maldives partnership as well as regional integration.
The Maldives and the EU discussed how the accession to the new EU-OACPS agreement should provide a pathway for the Maldives to negotiate accession to the OACPS’ Eastern and Southern African Group’s interim Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU, which provides for a tariff-free access to the EU market, including for tuna products.
"The EU and the Maldives discussed the concrete steps in the coming months towards this end," the statement read.
The development comes less than a week after the Maldivian government said a proposed trade deal with the UK will remove the existing 20% tariff imposed on Maldives' fish exports to the UK.
In a statement welcoming the UK's announcement of kick-starting an eight-week call for input in preparation to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Maldives, the President's Office said on Thursday that over the past four years, the Maldives has actively pursued negotiations with the UK, striving to eliminate the existing 20% tariff imposed on fish exports to the UK.
The government said it seeks to gain preferential treatment to the goods traded to the UK and unhindered access to its market by elimination of tariffs. The trade deal is expected to enhance bilateral trade between the Maldives and the UK, opening new avenues of economic growth and prosperity, it added.
