Nick Low

@IsmailAdley @MoFAmv @MoEDmv @IruthishamAdam It will. Because Maldives is an Upper-Middle Income Country it has been subject to a much higher tariff (20%) than its main competitors. Pole-and-line caught Maldivian tuna will receive a huge boost.

@NickDLow @MoFAmv @MoEDmv @IruthishamAdam Unfortunately when you give same duty free tariff exemption to all countries that export tuna to UK I do not think this will help us much.

Great news for British shoppers and Maldivian fishermen. The UK is suspending tariffs on tuna, helping bring prices down in the UK while opening better market access for Maldivian tuna. A win for affordability and sustainable tuna, caught one fish at a time. 🎣🐟 shorturl.at/4ombH

@IsmailAdley @MoFAmv @MoEDmv @IruthishamAdam There's a huge market for pole-and-line caught tuna in the United Kingdom. It's the only tuna Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose stock. Tuna is the UK's top-selling MSC-certified wild-caught fish, with over half of all tins on supermarket shelves carrying the MSC eco-label.

@NickDLow @MoFAmv @MoEDmv @IruthishamAdam Our main problem was competing with major countries that export pursained tuna products, whole we in the Maldives is an artisanal fishery and practicing only pole and line which is regulated by law. When we have the same level playing feel it still does not solve the issue.

A great pleasure to welcome colleagues from @hrcmv (Human Rights Commission of Maldives) to the British High Commission. Honoured to receive the entire leadership for an informative and wide-ranging briefing on the Commission's important work. Look forward to staying in touch.

@UKatheeb @MariyamZulfa No. UK exports are a tiny proportion of Israel's defence imports, and licences have been suspended where we assess there is a risk of use in violation of international humanitarian law.

@NickDLow @MariyamZulfa “The UK is supplying millions of pounds worth of arms to Israel. This makes it complicit in the killing of civilians taking place every day across the occupied Palestinian territory.” oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/c…

Very grateful for the warm welcome from HE Hassan Rasheed. When a conversation covers everything from hydrography and counterterrorism to training and maritime security, you realise just how broad and deep our defence relationship is. Much done and much more that we should do.

@asluAhsan @rsh1Mohamed @MoFAmv @MoEDmv @IruthishamAdam @MMuizzu @Keir_Starmer Well, I do hope you've seen my earlier response to a similar point. As an Upper-Middle Income Country, Maldives has been subject to much higher tariffs than the vast majority of its competitors. So, the benefit of the tariff suspension is much greater for Maldives.

@Keir_Starmer, your own government clearly stated these tariff suspensions were introduced to help British households manage rising food prices during the cost of living crisis. Tuna was simply one item among many included in a broader UK domestic economic measure. This was not a Maldives exclusive trade concession. So why is the British High Commissioner helping create the misleading impression that this was some special diplomatic victory achieved by Maldivian politicians? If all tuna exporters benefit from the same tariff suspension, then the competitive advantage for Maldives remains limited. At the same time, Maldivian fishermen continue facing rising fuel, transport, and operational costs which significantly reduce the real economic gain. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging cooperation between governments. But public officials and diplomats should communicate policy honestly instead of encouraging political spin and exaggerated narratives. The public today can read policy documents and understand the difference between a broad UK consumer protection measure and a country specific trade agreement. #TimesAreAChangin @10downingstreet @FCDOGovUK @guardian @thesundaytimes @PrivateEyeNews

@rsh1Mohamed @MoFAmv @MoEDmv @IruthishamAdam Most good things in life are a team effort, whether that is formalised or not. The informal and unstructured team that made this happen included many interlocutors from Maldives, principally @MMuizzu and @IruthishamAdam, who consistently raised the issue with us.

Thank you so much for such a detailed response. I truly appreciate it. This extremely helpful for local fisherman, but it’s also not really fair when the local gov runs headlines claiming this was achieved through their efforts, when this was planned and done solely by the UK to help its citizens. Have a nice day @NickDLow :D

@ablows @AtunaNews @waitrose @PrincesLimited @mifcomv And I am one of those sandwich-eaters!

Late. Yet better later than never. The UK is special in tuna market It has a tuna sandwich eating culture like nowhere else and a vocal NGO community that lobbies for sustainability. This is a win-win for both UK and MV @AtunaNews @waitrose @PrincesLimited @mifcomv

@rsh1Mohamed @MoFAmv @MoEDmv @IruthishamAdam Part III of III. (iv) And Brits love tuna and particularly Maldivian tuna. We buy around £17 million worth every year even with the tariff. So, there's a lot of headroom for Maldives to grow its market share; (v) a huge team effort from both sides to make this happen. Thank you!!

@NickDLow @MoFAmv @MoEDmv @IruthishamAdam Isn’t the tariff suspension for all tuna imports? Not just Maldivian tuna 🫡🤔

@rsh1Mohamed @MoFAmv @MoEDmv @IruthishamAdam Part II of III Indeed the 20% tariff made Maldivian tuna globally uncompetitive. That's why this is such good news. Maldives is the biggest beneficiary; (iii) so, why not unilaterally lift the tariff on just Maldivian tuna? Because that would have breached WTO rules.

@rsh1Mohamed @MoFAmv @MoEDmv @IruthishamAdam Part I of III. Now that's a good question and all credit to you for asking it. (i) You're right. It is for all tuna; (ii) But the size of the tariff on Maldivian tuna - 20% under World Trade Organisation rules for an Upper-Middle Income Country - hit Maldives particularly hard.

Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahdhi is a hero. On behalf of the Government and people of the United Kingdom, I offer our deepest condolences at this most difficult time.

Recent reports of the Maldives Police Service raid on Adhadhu are troubling. The UK has consistently raised concerns about media freedom. The raid sits uneasily with Maldives’ commitment to Commonwealth standards. Free and independent media are essential to healthy democracy.

St George’s Day greetings! Sending warm wishes from the Maldives to all with ties to England. Today’s a chance to celebrate the best of English life: creativity, humour, resilience — and looking out for one another. 🌹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

British High Commissioner to the Maldives, @NickDLow paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister @IruthishamAdam today. Discussed the longstanding friendship and reiterated commitment to enhance cooperation in the field of education & strengthening bilateral relations.

Wishing my erstwhile colleague in London @IruthishamAdam every personal and professional happiness and success in her new role as Minister of Foreign Affairs 🇲🇻.

Honoured to mark the 50th anniversary of the handover of RAF Gan to Maldives. A powerful moment of shared history, remembering RAF service, welcoming veterans back, and celebrating Gan’s remarkable journey to an international airport at the heart of Addu’s future. @UKinMaldives

Eid Mubarak – އީދުލްފިތުރު މުބާރިކު! Wishing the people of Maldives peace, happiness and blessings as families and communities come together to celebrate this joyful occasion.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh! Warm wishes to all celebrating St Patrick’s Day in Maldives and elsewhere, and especially to those with ties to Northern Ireland, which holds a special place in my heart. A day to honour resilience, community and friendship at home and abroad. 🍀