Two Spanish MEPs from the European People's Party have asked the European Commission whether it will maintain tuna's status as a sensitive product in the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with the Philippines, warning that further trade preferences could harm the EU's tuna processing industry. In a parliamentary question dated 4 June 2026, Gabriel Mato and Francisco José Millán Mon argue that the sector is strategic for coastal communities, labour-intensive, and processes some 340,000 tonnes annually. They note that the Philippines is the leading ASEAN exporter of canned tuna to the EU and that imports already cover around 50% of EU consumption.
The MEPs also ask whether the Commission has carried out or intends to carry out an impact assessment on liberalising imports of preserved Filipino tuna for the European processing industry. They further inquire whether such an assessment would take account of the cumulative effects of other agreements, such as the recently concluded deal with Mexico, and other preferential arrangements. The question reflects concerns that granting additional trade preferences to the Philippines, on top of those already in place, would increase pressure on EU processors.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it considers the tuna sector sensitive enough to warrant special treatment in the FTA, and whether it plans to conduct a cumulative impact assessment. The outcome could affect EU tuna processors, who face competition from low-cost imports, as well as Philippine exporters seeking better market access. The question also touches on broader trade-offs between trade liberalisation and protecting sensitive EU industries.