WTO eller EU-medlemskap? Norsk fiskerinæring og EUs handelsregime

Abstract

The report examines EU’s tariff regime for seafood and its implications for Norway’s exports to the EU. If Norway had no tariff preferences in the EU market, her seafood exports would be charged tariffs at 1.3 billion NOK or 6% of the trade value. Tariff preferences under the Norway-EU free trade agreements cut tariffs by around half, and tariff quotas imply a further reduction to 0.4 billion or 1.84% of the trade value. However, most other suppliers to the EU market have tariff preferences that are as good or even better. For Norway, WTO liberalisation will reduce tariffs for its seafood exports to the EU and provide a clear overall gain. EU membership will nevertheless eliminate tariffs altogether, and might have an impact on import demand that is 15 times larger than what is expected from the current WTO round.