Iceland will "strongly oppose" any moves other than a ban on mackerel exports to the European Union (EU), as it is in violation of WTO and European Economic Area (EEA) agreements, the country's chief negotiator on mackerel told IntraFish.
"Iceland will consider the application of any measure other than landing ban of mackerel by Icelandic vessels in EU ports -- for example import restrictions or other similar trade measures -- to be in violation of WTO and EEA agreements," said Sigurgeir Thorgeirsson, senior advisor with Iceland's ministry of Industries and Innovation.
"We do not believe that the EU will resort to actions that are not in full conformity with those agreements and other international commitments," Thorgeirsson told IntraFish.
Iceland's argument was countered by Audun Marak, director of the Norwegian Fishing Vessel owners Federation, who told IntraFish, tongue firmly in cheek, "I did not know that Iceland was so eager to follow international rules."
Thorgeirsson said it is "unjustified" to point fingers at one or two...
