Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs has expressed hope about a deal being done regarding the tariffs of the Maldivian fish products exported to the United Kingdom.
FM Shahid said this in an interview with Morning Trade UK after concluding his recent visit, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in central London, stating that Britain and likeminded nations should “put their money where their mouths are” when it comes to the environment, and agree to reach a deal with the Maldives on sustainable tuna imports.
The Maldivian minister stated that the UK was “punishing” the archipelago nation with its 20 percent tariffs on their fish exports.
He added that the Maldives has sent USD 10 million-worth of tuna to Britain so far this year, highlighting that the number would grow without the taxes.
Due to no longer being classified as a developing nation, Maldives is the only small-island Commonwealth state that faces tariffs on the goods heading to Britain.
The government deems other small states in the same boat get tariff-free access via other arrangements and often feel like the small island nation is overlooked.
During his interview FM Shahid also spoke regarding sustainable production, which he said was an in word and that the Maldives in included among few nations and if not the only one, that has a pole and line approach to its entire fishing sector.
We catch every single fish one by one. We have banned net fishing in our waters because we do not want to kill the ocean. The ocean is what sustains the Maldives and small island states.”Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister.
He went on to add that when it comes to the market countries or the buyers, they must “put their money where their mouths are” because on the one hand, they continue to talk regarding sustainability and protection of the environment and the ocean and biodiversity.
However, FM Shahid said that here is a small country which is able to have only two industries: tourism and fisheries. With this being said, FM Shahid noted that “punishing us with a 20 percent duty is not putting the money where your mouth is.”
FM Shahid stated that keeping the tariff on a nation that had used its aid cash wisely to rise up the development ranks was like “punishing a student in class for studying.”
However, the Maldivian minister said that he was hopeful about a deal being done, after meetings with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and other ministers.
Unlike on past visits I’m leaving the United Kingdom this time with much more hope that the final solution is in sight”Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister.
During the Conservative Conference held in October, Dr. Farahanaz Faizal questioned regarding the issue, to which trade chief Kemi Badenoch said a tuna agreement was the kind of thing they could look at via an enhanced partnership and that it doesn’t always have to be a trade deal.
With this being said, she agreed that the two nations should discuss a possible solution.
