Saving Seafood

China hits Canadian seafood items, including lobster and crab, with 25 percent tariff

March 10, 2025 — The government of China announced it is imposing 25 percent tariffs on an array of seafood items from Canada, in what it said was a response to Canadian tariffs on certain goods from China.

China’s Ministry of Finance announced the new tariffs on 8 March, and said the new tariffs are in response to a 100 percent tariff on electric vehicles and a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum products from China. Canada announced the set of tariffs in October 2024, and said it plans to tariff a range of goods including rapeseed oil, pork, and seafood.

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US retail sales fall slightly amid tariff, inflation concerns

March 10, 2025 — Overall U.S. retail and grocery sales fell slightly month-over-month in February as consumer concern about tariffs and food inflation tightened spending, but despite the drop sales still increased year-over-year, according to new data.

Sales at grocery and beverage stores fell 0.07 percent from January to February, but soared 4.08 percent year over year unadjusted, according to the National Retail Federation’s CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. Total retail sales, excluding automobiles and gasoline, also declined 0.22 percent seasonally adjusted in February, but inclined 3.38 percent unadjusted year over year.

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Experts warn logistics industry stakeholders to make contingency plans

March 10, 2025 — In their March 2025 forecasts, shipping and logistics experts are warning those who rely on the industry to expect continued disruption, and in order to survive a chaotic landscape, they are advising businesses to spend money conservatively, work with trusted partners, and make comprehensive contingency plans.

“In the face of uncertainty, what else do you do? You just hold off on major investments you are going to make,” Sunderesh Heragu, a professor at Oklahoma State Univesity and the president-elect of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, told SeafoodSource. “If you have the capacity to adapt, by all means, go ahead and do it.”

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US tariffs worry Chinese seafood exporters aiming to target American consumers

March 5, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump instituted an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods on 4 March, following the 10 percent he announced in February, meaning certain goods from China are now subject to a 45 percent import tariff.

The tariffs are causing uncertainty for Chinese seafood firms attempting to find or expand their U.S. customer base, some of which are making the trip from China to the upcoming Seafood Expo North America, which is taking place in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., from 16 to 18 March.

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Trump implements new tariffs on Canada, Mexico with both countries planning retaliation

March 4, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump followed through on his original order to institute 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, launching tariffs on goods from both countries on 4 March after a one-month pause.

In addition to the 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Trump also instituted an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods on top of the 10 percent he announced in February, meaning certain goods from China are now subject to a 45 percent import tariff.

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Seafood importers and shippers fear effects of USTR proposal to charge Chinese vessels

March 4, 2025 — On 24 February, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a nearly 200-page investigation into China’s shipping dominance, proposing, among other suggestions, that the U.S. charge up to USD 1.5 million (EUR 1.43 million) for Chinese-built vessels and USD 500,000 (EUR 478,642) for vessels with Chinese-built ships among their fleet to enter the nation’s ports.

The proposed fee would respond to what the USTR says are unfair shipping practices carried out by China, according to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

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Trump says 4 March start date for 25 percent tariffs on Canada, Mexico still on, plans an additional 10 percent tariff on China

February 27, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump clarified the start date of 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico will be 4 March, after comments on 26 February suggested they could be delayed until April.

Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that the tariffs originally delayed on 4 February until 4 March will go forward as scheduled. Trump said the tariffs will go into place because “drugs are still pouring into our country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels.”

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Southern Shrimp Alliance echoes US congressman’s calls for tariffs on foreign seafood

February 13, 2025 — U.S. Representative Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) recently sent a letter to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump that offered simple advice on Trump’s tariff policies: To save American seafood, tax imports from China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. 

Higgins shared the letter he sent to the president on social media platform X with the caption, “Protecting the American seafood industry requires aggressive action.”

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Chinese government quietly heeding NGO advice by trying to rein in provincial distant-water fleets

February 7, 2025 — China has become more receptive to advice and pressure from international NGOs on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing matters, according to Hang Zhou, a professor at Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based University of Laval.

Zhou, who has a postdoctoral background in fisheries research and has collaborated both with wildlife conservation groups and Chinese international diplomacy groups, told SeafoodSource that international NGOs in the fisheries sector “have [direct] channels of communication and interaction with Chinese line ministries and research institutes.”

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Trump pauses 25 percent tariffs on Canada, but Chinese tariffs take effect

February 4, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump has paused planned 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods, barring a 10 percent carveout for energy, following a conversation with Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trump announced on his Truth Social social media platform that Canada has “agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border” as part of a CAD 1.3 billion (USD EUR ) border plan. The move came just hours after he also balked at applying 25 percent tariffs to Mexico for a month, based on similar promises that the country would increase security at its border with the U.S.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource