Saving Seafood

Saving Seafood statement on the America First Seafood Strategy

October 27, 2026 — “Saving Seafood, our national coalition, and our many supporters and colleagues throughout the commercial fishing and seafood industry welcome the America First Seafood Strategy and, in particular, its commitment to bringing the federal government together behind a stronger American seafood industry.

“For too long, seafood policy has too often been treated as only the responsibility of NOAA. This strategy recognizes that rebuilding American seafood production requires a much broader effort. We are especially pleased to see USDA working closely with NOAA, alongside the Department of Health and Human Services, FDA, the Coast Guard, the U.S. Trade Representative, MARAD and other federal agencies.

“American seafood is simultaneously a food product, an agricultural and nutritional priority, a major source of employment, an international trade commodity and an essential part of the economy of our coastal communities. The strategy reflects that reality by bringing together the agencies responsible for fisheries, food and nutrition, trade, infrastructure, financing and enforcement.

“That kind of coordinated federal attention to American seafood is long overdue, and it creates an opportunity to strengthen fishermen, processors, working waterfronts and seafood businesses throughout the country.”

 

Section 301 tariffs leave US seafood importers with few avenues to avoid rising costs

August 10, 2026 — The latest round of tariffs implemented by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) targeted several countries that heavily produce salmon and shrimp with duty rates between 10 percent and 12.5 percent, leaving U.S. seafood importers with few options for relief from rising costs.

The 60 global economies hit with Section 301 tariffs include top salmon-producing countries such as Norway, Chile, and the U.K., as well as shrimp-producing nations like Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US lawmakers request broad Section 301 investigation into foreign seafood

May 15, 2026 — A pair of U.S. lawmakers have asked U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer to launch a Section 301 investigation into unfair trade practices that are harming America’s seafood industry.

“We encourage the USTR to pursue a seafood-specific Section 301 investigation that examines all unfair acts, policies, and practices across the full seafood supply chain from countries including but not limited to Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Spain, Thailand, and Vietnam, ” U.S. Representative Troy Carter (D-Louisiana) and U.S. Representative Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) said in the 11 May letter.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

USTR launching Section 301 investigation on Brazil days after Trump threatened high tariffs Chris Chase Chris Chase

July 18, 2025 — The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has launched Section 301 investigation against what it said are potentially unfair trade practices used by Brazil, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened 50 percent tariffs on the country over claims it was treating former President Jair Bolsonaro unfairly.

According to a release from the USTR, the investigation will focus on a range of topics, including digital trade and electronic payment services; unfair, preferential tariffs; anti-corruption interference; intellectual property protection; ethanol market access; and illegal deforestation and whether those acts “are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

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.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US Court of International Trade orders second look at China tariffs

April 5, 2022 — The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) has ordered the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to take a second look at its decision making on thousands of Section 301 tariffs levied against Chinese goods.

The 71-page decision by the court, released 1 April, 2022, stems from a lawsuit filed in 2020 by a company that specializes in vinyl flooring. Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.A.-based HMTX Industries and its affiliated companies filed a complaint with the CIT challenging the authority of former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the “unlawful escalation” of the trade war with China.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

National Fisheries Institute Statement on Reinstatement of Tariff Exclusions

March 24, 2022 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is pleased to have helped lead the effort to reduce costs for its members and promote free and fair trade through the reduction of tariffs.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s decision to reinstate previously expired exclusions on fisheries products will not only benefit American workers throughout the seafood value chain but also will help make the healthiest animal protein on the planet more available and affordable. This is ultimately a tax cut for American families, at a time of significant supply chain and inflationary challenges.

NFI continues to advocate for responsible trade policies that directly benefit American seafood workers and the American consumers who depend on those workers for a reliable supply of nutritious seafood.

Robert DeHaan
Vice President, Government Affairs
National Fisheries Institute

US files 1st USMCA environment case on Mexico over porpoise

February 11, 2022 — The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office filed the first environmental complaint against Mexico Thursday for failing to protect the critically endangered vaquita marina, the world’s smallest porpoise.

The office said it had asked for “environment consultations” with Mexico, the first such case it has filed under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact. Consultations are the first step in the dispute resolution process under the trade agreement, which entered into force in 2020. If not resolved, it could eventually lead to trade sanctions.

Mexico’s government has largely abandoned attempts to enforce a fishing-free zone around an area where the last few vaquitas are believed to live. Nets set illegally for another fish, the totoaba, drown vaquitas.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that “USTR is committed to protecting the environment and is requesting this consultation to ensure Mexico lives up to its USMCA environment commitments,” adding “We look forward to working with Mexico to address these issues.”

Read the full story at AP News

Biden administration turning attention to seafood’s labor issues

January 14, 2022 — The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has released an action plan to combat human trafficking at home and abroad, an initiative that includes a focus on labor issues in the global seafood industry.

The U.S. Trade Representative National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, released in December 2021, involves better coordination among American agencies as well as with other countries’ law enforcement bodies to track and prosecute human trafficking on fishing vessels and in onshore seafood processing facilities. Under the plan, the USTR will ramp up its efforts to encourage other countries to put in place bans on imports of goods made with forced labor.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

Deal announced to halt parallel tariffs between US and UK

June 18, 2021 — Just days after policymakers announced a five-year suspension of tariffs between the United States and European Union – winding down a decades-long trade conflict – officials announced a similar deal is being struck between the U.S. and United Kingdom.

The agreement is in regards to an ongoing civil aircraft dispute involving U.S.-based Boeing and E.U.-based Airbus. According to a release from the U.S. Trade Representative, the framework for a deal between the U.S. and U.K. is similar to that reached earlier this week with the E.U.

Read the full story at Seafood Source