The US, EU Revive Shellfish Trade

by | March 30, 2022

After more than a decade, the United States and the EU will resume “bilateral trade in bivalve molluscan shellfish.” The agreement paves the way for Spain and the Netherlands to export chilled or frozen shellfish to the United States. Massachusetts and Washington will reciprocate.

“Today’s announcement represents a positive step in the trade relationship between the United States and the European Union,” Ambassador Katherine Tai, the U.S. trade representative, explained. “The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to both addressing trade barriers and building new opportunities for U.S. producers.”

Conflicting regulatory standards eventually disrupted trade between the two regions in 2011. But after years of audits and on-and-off talks, U.S. and EU officials reached an agreement. Regulators determined control systems in both regions were comparable enough to pass international regulatory muster.

“U.S. seafood producers, including many family-owned businesses, are internationally recognized for exporting safe, sustainable, and wholesome seafood — a valuable commodity in the global market,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo added. “The resumption of trade in key shellfish products like oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops highlights the competitiveness of our fishery resources.”

This agreement paves the way for other EU members to ink their shellfish trade deals with the United States.

“This is good news for food operators and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic,” EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides said. “Commerce shall resume shortly, and I look forward to the extension of this opportunity to more EU member states.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published an FAQ on the deal. The notice includes information regarding the potential expansion of trade.

In 2020, the United States ranked as one of the world’s largest seafood exporters, with sales exceeding $4.5 billion. In addition, the United States shipped more than $900 million in seafood to the European Union in 2021.

Find out how TraceGains solutions, such as Audit Management, can help your brand avoid unnecessary risk in our eBook, “Managing Risk in the Global Supply Chain.”

Related Content

FDA Commissioner Califf Hits the Ground Running

FDA Commissioner Califf Hits the Ground Running

It didn’t take the new U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner – returning chief Dr. Robert Califf – long ...
TraceGains Gather® Maps the Way Forward

TraceGains Gather® Maps the Way Forward

With Maps, Gather users can source and qualify suppliers on the marketplace more efficiently in a new map view.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This