Saving Seafood

Tariff tango: Chinese seafood markets at risk as trade rhetoric escalates

June 20, 2018 — Last Friday U.S. and Chinese officials announced a bundle of tariffs, each targeting the other nation’s exports in what could become an all-out trade war.

President Donald Trump made an announcement early in the day imposing a 35 percent tariff on all Chinese goods containing “industrially significant technologies,” an estimated $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, calling the move an effort to boost domestic production.

More than 800 products, about $34 billion worth, will be subject to tariffs starting July 6. About 280 other exports will need to undergo a public comment period and will take effect later.

Later in the day of June 15, officials with the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China responded with the announcement of a retaliatory 25 percent tariff on various U.S. exports, including many seafood products. That 25 percent would be charged on top of existing tariffs.

“We are deeply disappointed in these retaliatory tariffs. There is no connection between the products targeted by the U.S. and the tariffs Beijing plans to impose on exported American seafood,” said John Connelly, president of the National Fisheries Institute.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

 

China is the biggest market for Alaska seafood exports. The tariff war is raising concerns.

June 19, 2018 — Alaska seafood is among the industries caught in the growing trade battle between the United States and China, and it’s not clear yet exactly what the outcome will be.

After President Donald Trump last week announced tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods, China responded by announcing tariffs of the “same scale and the same strength.” China said it would impose 25 percent tariffs on U.S. goods worth $50 billion.

On Monday, things escalated further when Trump responded by threatening China with tariffs on $200 billion of goods.

Alaska’s seafood industry officials and members of the state’s congressional delegation said they were concerned about the tariffs at a time when the state is trying to strengthen ties with China, its largest trading partner and the biggest market for Alaska seafood exports.

“While there are many unknowns as to the impacts of these newly announced tariffs, I urge President Trump to work towards a trade policy with China that protects these critical markets for our seafood industry,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said in emailed statement.

Read the full story at the Alaska Daily News

 

New England Fishermen Worry About Trade Dispute With China

June 18, 2018 — New England fishermen could be caught in the middle of the escalating trade dispute between the United States and China.

In response to Trump administration tariff threats, China is planning its own 25 percent tariff on more than 500 U.S. products, including seafood.

Latest numbers from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries put the value of seafood caught in Massachusetts in 2016 at $551 million.

But Chatham’s Doug Feeney says small boat fishermen like him are already hurting. He’s been traveling to China to try to expand his market.

Read the full story at WBUR

US seafood not included in Chinese retaliatory trade tariffs

April 2, 2018 — Seafood is not on the list of 128 US products targeted by Chinese retaliatory tariffs.

On Monday China’s Ministry of Commerce (MoC) said it would be “suspending tariff concessions” on 128 US products, consisting mainly of US food and drink. Fresh and dried fruits, almonds, pistachios and wine will be subject to an additional 15% tariff. Eight other items, including frozen pork, will be subject to an additional 25% tariff.

The tariffs — announced in direct response to US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, MoC said — are effective Monday and will impact $2 billion worth of US exports to China, said the ministry.

US seafood products will not be levied additional tariffs, however, Undercurrent News can confirm.

US soyabeans – which is used in Chinese aquatic feed production — are also absent from the list, which can be viewed here on the MoC website.

Last year, the US exported $1.3bn worth of seafood to China, making China the US’ largest seafood export market, according to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

US seafood exports to China included $128.7 million worth of live and fresh lobster (HS code 030632) and $51.6m worth of frozen crab (HS code 030614), according to International Trade Center. This included $17.0m of frozen Dungeness crab (HS code 0306144030). None of these HS codes are included on the list.

Chinese tariffs on US seafood would mainly hurt fishing industries in New England, the US west coast and Alaska.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

 

How a trade war threat could squeeze ag

March 26, 2018 — HOW A TRADE WAR THREAT COULD SQUEEZE AG: Farmers and ranchers, and their representatives in Washington, have spent much of President Donald Trump’s 14 months in office warning that the agricultural industry would be collateral damage in a tit-for-tat trade war. It seems their fears have been confirmed, after China released a lengthy list of $3 billion worth of products it has set up for reciprocal tariffs — including pork, nuts, fresh and dried fruits, and wine, Pro Ag’s Catherine Boudreau and Helena Bottemiller Evich report this morning.

Groups rally in opposition to fisheries bill: Several dozen environmental groups wrote to House leaders Reps. Paul Ryan and Nancy Pelosi last week opposing H.R. 200 (115), a measure that they say would weaken the Magnuson-Stevens Act’s conservation provisions “by creating loopholes, watering down legal standards, and decreasing accountability.”

NOAA plans cod quota increase: NOAA plans to greatly increase the quotas for cod and haddock catches to increase revenues for Northeastern fishermen, the Associated Press reports.

Read the full story at Politico