September 20, 2018 — If president Donald Trump was hoping to get a pat on the back from the Alaskan pollock industry for keeping its re-processed fillets off the list of seafood products to receive additional tariffs when imported from China, he will be sadly disappointed.
Rather, thanks to some apparent confusion over the harmonized tariff codes, the administration’s exemptions appear to help the Russian pollock industry more, advises James Gilmore, the director of public affairs for the At-Sea Processors Association (APA), one of the loudest voices for Alaska pollock producers, in an email to Undercurrent News.
“If our interpretation is correct, Alaska pollock producers face stiff tariffs in China and Russia’s ban on US seafood imports, including Alaska pollock, remains in effect,” Gilmore said. “Meanwhile, our principal international competition—Russian pollock processed in China—enjoys tariff-free access to our domestic market.”
Gilmore’s comments follow closely those made by Fedor Kirsanov, the CEO of Russian Fishery Company, one of the country’s largest pollock quota holders, who told Undercurrent the trade war is helping to boost his prices.