DAVAO CITY - The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) shared that some Mindanao exporters are expected to continue enjoying zero tariffs when exporting to European markets with the approved extension of the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) for four years, until the end of 2027.

“We welcome this new year with great news for our traders who have been lobbying for the extension of the GSP+ since last year. This is a win particularly for our tuna exporters and producers of other manufactured products” said MinDA Secretary Maria Belen Acosta.

EU-GSP+ is a special incentive arrangement that allows the country to export more than 6,200 products to any EU member country tariff-free. In November 2023, the EU parliament and the council voted to extend the current GSP scheme, thereby extending the validity of the GSP+ privileges to four more years. Without GSP+, tariffs for tuna and other exports is around 20 percent.

With the anticipated expiration of the preferential tariff scheme by December 2023, MinDA, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI’s) Industry Development and Trade Promotion Group (IDTPG), Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR), Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), and Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) - Brussels, Belgium, conducted a series of stakeholders’ forums and consultations in the cities of General Santos, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, and Butuan to discuss the status of the GSP+, including how the beneficiaries can take full advantage of the scheme.

“The GSP+ paved the way for the exporters to increase their market access and sales opportunities to the EU market, which is one of the largest markets in the world, improving their competitiveness and allowing them to sell more products and contribute to the Philippines' economic growth leading to more jobs creation,” DTI Misamis Oriental Provincial Director Almer Masillones said during one of the consultations.

The Regional Development Councils IX and XII also passed resolutions supporting the renewal of the Philippines to the GSP+ as one of the results of the series of consultations.

 “With this new development, our exporters will remain competitive in the EU market in the next four years. We trust that our government partners like MinDA and DTI will continue to work and negotiate for the Philippines qualification to EU’s new successor regulation,” said Rosanan Bernadette Contreras, executive director of SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc (SFFAII).

Among the top Philippine products that can benefit from the GSP+ are canned tuna, sardines, crude coconut oil/coco-oil based products, processed/preserved pineapple, and furniture parts. [Kathy Mar Mateo-Orbeta/MinDA]