CETA webinar: Your CETA EU questions & answers

Yes, we use tax consultants on a regular basis.

The best approach is an open, friendly, co-operative cup-of-tea approach. You want information from an experienced company? Be open and transparent. This is the best approach.

We talk continuously to competing companies in our industry and help each other out with advice, logistics, marketing, sales, company contacts, and the like, but we keep the setting of our price as an independent action. This saves us thousands of dollars on good advice in the entire value chain.

We looked at the EU over a three-year period and we looked at the EU’s position on value-added products entering the market. There are many tariffs on value-added products. Live lobsters and commodity shrimp simply cooked and peeled had the fewest tariffs and obstacles in their path to entry.

When Brand Canada came out, we immediately applied to use it. I was in the military in Europe, Syria and Israel and felt extremely safe, respected and trusted by the local people because the Canadian flag always was on my shoulder badge. It showed me the great respect held for our country and Brand Canada—just with the flag—and it taught me that such respect can be turned into sales.

Yes, indeed there is. I really was just having a bit of fun at the expense of Europeans who didn’t know how to eat them because in Europe, they have different species of lobster and they are just starting to come around to liking our lobster. This takes time and price adjustment. But the happy ending is that it is happening, and, over time, our lobster will be sought out with greater demand in Europe.

Two-and-a-half to three years.

It was of the utmost importance for building relationships in the British Retail Consortium. Given that we are commodity producers, by having a partner we saw greater returns immediately. In addition, the invoices were paid very quickly.