Do you want to buy an expensive Norwegian mackerel, or a slightly cheaper British mackerel that is fished in the same sea? That is the question Japan now decides on when they buy mackerel. The reason is that the EU and Great Britain have obtained better trade agreements with the country than Norway has. – For the fishermen along the coast and the Norwegian industrial companies, this is very, very serious, says Inger Marie Sperre of the fishing company Brødrene Sperre AS. Inger Marie Sperre is the day-to-day manager of the fishing company Brødrene Sperre AS. They receive over 60,000 tonnes of mackerel a year. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news Important market Japan is the largest market for the small schooling fish. In 2023, Norway exported mackerel to a value of over NOK 1.4 billion, according to Statistics Norway. No other country imports as much Norwegian mackerel. Almost half of all mackerel caught in Norway goes directly or indirectly there, says Johan Kvalheim of Norway’s Seafood Council. – The Japanese love the Norwegian mackerel, simply because it is so fat and good. It gives a good taste compared to locally caught mackerel. Johan Kvalheim is the Norwegian Seafood Council’s envoy to Japan. Photo: Norway’s Seafood Council But in the future, there may be less Norwegian mackerel in the Japanese. Today, Japan has to pay a 3.9 percent duty on the fish it buys from Britain. These countries have an agreement to remove all tariffs on mackerel by 2033. Japan currently has a 7 percent tariff on whole fish from Norway, and a 10 percent tariff on fillets. And we have no agreement on zero duty. It is very important for Norway to also start negotiating a zero-tariff agreement, says Kvalheim. – We have not received either a free trade agreement or tariff reductions on our mackerel. This puts us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors. Not “Mackerel from Norway” At the reception of Brødrene Sperre in Ålesund, pallets of prawns are loaded onto land no. But by late summer, the mackerel will be in full swing. – For the industry in Norway, it is absolutely decisive for us to be able to maintain the good position we have in Japan, that we get the same market conditions as our competitors around the North Sea basin, says daily manager Inger Marie Sperre. Large quantities of mackerel are delivered to Brødrene Sperre on Ellingsøya during one season. Photo: Trygve Heide / news The company is worried about what the lack of trade agreements will mean for the sale of mackerel to Japan in the future. – Suddenly, it is not “mackerel from Norway” that is at the forefront of Japanese consumers’ minds, says Sperre. She believes that the work on zero duty should go faster. – It is clear that I think it should go faster. And I think perhaps first and foremost that it should have been focused on many years ago, and that these processes should have started earlier. Still no negotiations Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and a whole bunch of actors from the fishing and seafood industry visited Japan half a year ago. Even then, the goal was to get started with a free trade agreement. They agreed to have “closer dialogue”. Now top Norwegian politicians have again been to Japan to discuss the tariff on Norwegian fish. Fisheries Minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss says they will continue to work for Norway’s position as the preferred mackerel in Japan. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news Fisheries Minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss says there is reason to be concerned about the situation. But that they are still not in the process of negotiations. – We have had very good meetings, including with the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in Japan, where this was the topic. I can’t say that we have reached an agreement, but we have in any case reached an agreement to continue to have good cooperation and dialogue. Why is it so difficult to reach such an agreement with Japan? – My impression is that one is afraid that it will affect the Japanese fishermen, who will then have increased competition. Do you know the name of Japan’s fisheries minister? Tetsushi Sakamoto. Photo: Ministry of Industry and Fisheries But Kvalheim of Norway’s Seafood Council believes that the authorities in Japan cannot protect the fishermen from the competition, as long as they are unable to cover the demand themselves. – Catches in Japanese fisheries are on the way down. Then the industry looks to Scotland and Norway. So we see that they are forced to buy more Scottish mackerel than they actually want, because they have the best and longest traditions with Norway. He still does not believe that zero tariffs and free trade agreements will be in place anytime soon. – No, I don’t think that is imminent. Published 14.06.2024, at 21.35
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The fisheries minister in Japan to negotiate a duty-free trade agreement on Norwegian mackerel – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
