The suspension of a 20 percent tariff on Maldivian fish exports to the United Kingdom for two years could allow the Maldives to secure a significantly larger share of the British seafood market, Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu), said last night.

Speaking on PSM’s Raajje Miadhu programme, Mundhu said Maldivian exporters had long been disadvantaged in the UK market because competing countries were already exporting seafood products without similar tariff burdens.

“These countries don’t have to pay a tax when they export seafood products to the UK. For so long we have been competing for market access with these countries while carrying this 20 percent tax burden,” he said.

According to Mundhu, the Maldives currently ranks as the ninth largest seafood exporter to the UK. He expressed confidence that the tariff relief would help expand Maldivian exports and improve the country’s market position.

“We are confident that our entrepreneurs are very capable, including state-owned companies. Hopefully, very soon we will increase the volume of exports to the UK,” he said.

He noted that Maldivian canned fish and pouch tuna products are already popular among UK consumers, but tariffs have made it difficult for local exporters to compete effectively on price.

“Hopefully, there is now an opportunity to change that and take a huge percentage of the market,” he added.

Mundhu said that Ecuador, Mauritius, Seychelles, Ghana, the Philippines, Spain and the Netherlands are some of the Maldives’ main competitors in the UK seafood market.

The Maldives has for years sought the removal or reduction of tariffs on fish exports to Europe and the UK through negotiations conducted by successive governments.

However, the UK has decided to postpone the suspension of duties on Maldivian fish exports until 2028.