The European Union (EU) lifted temporally restrictions on Ecuador’s tuna industrya and will now allow them to use products from countries that also have agreements with the EU. Hence raw tuna from El Salvador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru, which is processed and exported to the EU by Ecuadorian companies, will be exempted from a 24 % tariff.
From Manta to Brussels one way please
In April 2016 Ecuador applied to the EU for a "derogation from the rules on preferential origin", so that its processing industry could consider raw materials originating in Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama to be materials originating in Ecuador, "by virtue of regional cumulation"
Without the accumulation of raw materials from these other nations Ecuadorian exports of preserved or prepared tuna headed for the EU would be reduced by 30 percent.
The announcement was made August 17 after the Official Journal of the EU issued the Implementing Regulation 2016/1380 concerning the rules of origin applicable to regional cumulation for tuna from Ecuador.
Until December 31, 2016 this regulation lifts the restrictions preventing Ecuadorian tuna exporters from using raw materials from those countries, which already have trade agreements with the EU.
"Considering the circumstances, the reasons provided in Ecuador's request and the further adverse impact of the earthquake on its fish processing industry, Ecuador should benefit from a temporary derogation from the requirement (...).
Consequently, the materials originating in Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama used for the manufacture of prepared and preserved tuna and skipjack classified in HS subheading 1604 14 and in prepared or preserved tuna skipjack or other fish of the genus Euthynnus of CN subheading 1604 20 70 should be considered to be originating in Ecuador, provided that certain conditions are fulfilled," states the numeral 8 of the EU Regulation.
Some of the basics on the EU rules on origin, tariffs and cumulation can be found in this publication