For the fisheries sector, Spain is the main actor in the Mercosur–EU agreement

EU activates trade agreement with Mercosur, opening a new scenario for Spain’s fishing industry

SPAIN
Thursday, April 16, 2026, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

The sector welcomes access to raw materials starting May 1, 2026, but warns of imbalances in higher value-added products

Countries that make up Mercosur. Click on the map to enlarge

Vigo.  The official publication of the provisional application of the interim trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur marks a turning point for Spain's seafood processing industry. The organization ANFACO-CYTMA highlighted the positive impact of this measure, which will come into force on May 1, 2026 , while warning of significant commercial asymmetries.

According to the organization, the new framework represents “a strategic step forward” for the sector, improving access to essential raw materials and providing greater stability to trade relations, while also introducing challenges in terms of competitive balance.

Paraguay has established itself as a strategic hub for processing Argentine shrimp. Photo: courtesy of Revista Puerto.

Strengthening supply and competitiveness

One of the main benefits of the agreement will be the immediate elimination of tariffs on several key species. This will facilitate the import of products such as Argentine hake , squid (pota) , and anchovy , all essential for Spain's industry. Meanwhile, frozen Argentine red shrimp , the main imported product, will undergo gradual liberalization.

In 2025 , Spanish imports of fishery products from Mercosur reached nearly $330 million , with red shrimp accounting for approximately $272 million , alongside hake and squid. These figures highlight the strategic importance of the region as a supplier for the processing sector.

Export opportunities with limitations

On the export side, data also show moderate growth. In 2025 , Spain exported 1,555 tons of fishery and aquaculture products to Mercosur, valued at approximately $12.7 million . Key products included octopus , blue shark , and frozen squid , as well as canned seafood products.

Mercosur's market, with an estimated middle class of 130 million people , represents a significant opportunity. Some products will become duty-free at the start of the agreement, while others, such as blue shark, will be liberalized in five stages .

However, ANFACO-CYTMA warns of important limitations, particularly for higher value-added processed products. In these cases, Mercosur applies longer liberalization schedules—up to 16 stages —and even excludes key products such as canned mussels , creating a clear trade asymmetry.

Protection of sensitive products in the EU

Within the European market, canned tuna remains excluded from tariff liberalization, a measure considered positive by the sector given its strategic importance.

This decision underscores the need to balance market openness with the protection of sensitive industries, ensuring fair competitive conditions.

Impact on business planning

The agreement will improve supply predictability and strengthen the sector's competitiveness. The gradual reduction of tariffs will facilitate business planning, encourage investment, and enhance the international positioning of Spanish companies.

However, the organization stresses the importance of accompanying this liberalization with guarantees related to sanitary requirements , traceability , and production standards , as well as effective monitoring and control mechanisms.

Legal certainty, a key factor

The provisional application of the agreement also brings greater certainty, although the sector insists it must be supported by full legal certainty and regulatory clarity, especially while the agreement is still under review by the Court of Justice of the European Union .

In this context, the Secretary General of ANFACO-CYTMA , Roberto Alonso , stated: "The European Union's trade policy must strengthen access to raw materials while preserving balance with the seafood processing industry. It is essential to incorporate the sector's sensitivities and avoid creating competitive disadvantages, ensuring level playing field conditions."

🇯🇵Japanese Version

The EU's new trade agreement is open, and the new fishery situation is open.

In the same industry, as ofMay 1, 2026, the raw materials and raw materials are the same, and the high-paying and high-price products are unbalanced.

ビーゴ. The provisional trade agreement between the European Union and the European Union is tentatively applicable to the formula list and the fishery processing industry's fisheries processing industry exchange points. Organization ANFACO-CYTMA 's measures will be effective on May 1, 2026 Step forward, influence the direction of the business, emphasize one side, and warn of major commercial imbalances.

The same organization, the same organization, the new group, the same branch, "the advance of the war strategy", the meaning, the important raw materials, the sameをImprovement, trade relations, stability, stability, and competition are all issues.

Strengthening supply and competitiveness

The main advantage of this Agreement is the immediate withdrawal of tariffs on several major fish species.これにより, スペインindustrial industry cannot owe なアルゼンチンproduced メルルーサ (タラfamily fish) ,イカ (ポタ) , およびアンチョビなどの inputがEASYになる. On the one hand, the main imported product, frozen アルゼンチン, is being liberalized in stages.

In 2025 , the import volume of seafood products in Japan and South Korea is approximately 330 million yuan , About 272 millionそのうち红エビがそのうちエビが, メルルーサやイカと, and んでimportant position をshares. The supply source of the digital supply chain and the processing industry in the same region are shown in the figure.

Restricting the output opportunities of partners

The output surface is smooth and the growth is slow and the growth is slow. 2025 , スペインはメルコスールに対し, aquaculture products 1,555 トンをOutputし、その価値はApproximately 12.7 million ドルであった. Main items include にはタコ,ヨシキリザメ, frozen イカがcontaining まれ, and さらに缶诘 aquatic products もげられる.

The middle-level market of about 130 million people holds the market and provides important opportunities. At the beginning of the agreement on one-part products, there will be five stages of liberalization including tariff-free products and tariff-free products .

しかし、ANFACO-CYTMAは、Special にHigh pay plus 価値のProcessed products においてImportant なRestrictions がExistence するとWARNING している.これらの分野では、メルコスールは longest 16-stage and long-term liberalization スケジュールを applicable The main products ofムール贝の缶诘などの are を対外とするoccasion もあり and clear な trade imbalance を生んでいる.

EU protection of sensitive items

The importance of the European market's tariff liberalization and tariff liberalization, and the importance of the war strategy have been affirmed by the same division of labor.

The decision is made, the market openness and the protection of sensitive industries are emphasized, the necessity is emphasized, and the fair competition conditions are ensured.

Impact on business plans

This agreement will provide a high probability of supply and strengthen competitiveness in the same field. Tariffs are being reduced in stages, business plans are easily established, investments are being promoted, and companies' international status is improving.

しかし Same organization, このliberalization environment, sanitation requirements ,トレーサビリティ, およびproduction standards The monitoring and management of the guarantee and effect of the guarantee and the effect of the guarantee shall not be owed to the supervision of the supervision.

Important elements of the authenticity of law

The provisional application of this Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the European Union Judicial Tribunal.てであるは under review, complete legal certainty and regulatory clarity, and necessary and necessary している.

この文典において, ANFACO-CYTMA 's affairs director であるロベルト・アロンソは时のように书べた. 「European joint trade policyは, fishery processing industry maintenanceしながらraw materialsへのアクセスをstrengtheningしなければならない. The characteristics of the industry should be taken into account, the advantages of competition should be avoided, and fair competition conditions should be ensured. "

🇨🇳Simplified Chinese Version

The EU launches a trade agreement with Mercosur, opening a new chapter for Spanish fisheries

The industry welcomesaccess to raw materials starting May 1, 2026, but warns of an imbalance in high value-added products.

Vigo. The provisional application of the interim trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur (Southern Common Market) has been officially announced, marking a turning point for Spain's seafood processing industry. The organization ANFACO-CYTMA emphasized the positive impact of the measure, which will take effect on May 1, 2026 , but also warned of significant trade asymmetries.

The organization stated that the new framework is a "strategic advancement" for the industry, improving access to key raw materials and providing greater stability to trade relations, but it still presents challenges in terms of competitive balance.

Strengthening supply and competitiveness

One of the key advantages of the agreement is the immediate elimination of tariffs on several key species. This will boost imports of Argentine products such as hake , pota squid , and anchovies , which are important raw materials for Spanish industries. Meanwhile, Argentine frozen red shrimp, a major import, will be subject to gradual liberalization.

In 2025 , Spain imported nearly $330 million worth of seafood from Mercosur , including approximately $272 million in red shrimp , as well as hake and squid. These figures highlight the region's strategic importance as a source of supply for the processing industry.

Limited export opportunities exist

On the export front, data shows moderate growth. In 2025 , Spain exported 1,555 tons of seafood and aquaculture products to Mercosur , with a total value of approximately US$12.7 million . Major products included octopus , blue shark , and frozen squid , as well as various canned seafood products.

Mercosur has a middle-class market of approximately 130 million people , representing significant potential. Some products will be immediately duty-free upon the agreement's entry into force, while others, such as blue sharks, will be liberalized gradually in five phases .

However, ANFACO-CYTMA warns that significant restrictions remain, particularly in the high-value-added processed goods sector. In these areas, Mercosur's longer tariff reduction timelines—up to 16 phases —even exclude key products like canned mussels , creating significant trade asymmetry.

EU protection for sensitive products

In the EU market, canned tuna remains excluded from tariff liberalization, a measure seen as a positive step by the industry due to its strategic importance.

This decision underscores the importance of striking a balance between opening up markets and protecting sensitive industries in order to ensure level playing conditions.

Impact on corporate planning

This agreement will improve supply predictability and enhance industry competitiveness. The gradual reduction of tariffs will help businesses plan, promote investment, and improve the international standing of Spanish companies.

However, the organization emphasized that while promoting liberalization, it is essential to ensure safeguards in terms of hygiene requirements , traceability , and production standards , and to establish effective monitoring and control mechanisms.

Legal certainty: a key factor

The provisional application of the agreement also brings greater certainty, but the industry insists that it must be supported by full legal certainty and regulatory clarity, especially while the agreement is still under review by the European Court of Justice .

Against this backdrop, ANFACO-CYTMA Secretary General Roberto Alonso stated: "The EU's trade policy must maintain a balance with the seafood processing industry while strengthening access to raw materials. The industry's sensitivities must be taken into account to avoid creating competitive disadvantages and to ensure a level playing field."

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