With U.S. President Donald Trump set on reordering international trade to align with his “America First” priorities, seafood companies have been quick to list areas where they would like to see improvements.
Trump has moved swiftly in the first months of his second term to change the nation’s trade policies, threatening and implementing tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China.
In February, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) asked the public to point out “unfair trade practices by other countries” in response to Trump’s America First Trade Policy Presidential Memorandum. Several seafood companies and associations have responded to the call, documenting issues they have with the status quo and recommending areas for improvement.
In a detailed letter, the National Fisheries Institute – the largest trade association representing the U.S. seafood sector – called on the U.S. government to work to eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers that hinder American producers’ access to foreign markets.
“U.S. seafood exporters continue to face significant barriers that have eroded their competitiveness,” NFI Executive Vice President Robert DeHaan said. “A combination of longstanding and newly imposed trade restrictions – including tariff and non-tariff measures – has allowed competitors such as Canada and Chile to gain market share at the expense of U.S. producers. China’s retaliatory tariffs, for example, have made it far more difficult for U.S. seafood to compete, while restrictive import measures in key markets such as the European Union, Japan, and Brazil have further eroded access for American producers.”
“The result should surprise no one: U.S. seafood exports have declined to their lowest levels in over a decade,” DeHaan added.
Among NFI’s recommendations are eliminating China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. seafood, the European Union’s tariffs and Autonomous Tariff Quotas on seafood products, and tariffs imposed by the United Kingdom and Japan.
The institute also called on the U.S. to enforce China’s commitments to buy American seafood, which were agreed to in the first Trump administration.
Of particular concern is the U.S. lobster industry, which faces an imminent challenge with the forthcoming expiration of the E.U.-U.S. “mini deal,” a 2020 agreement that eliminated E.U. tariffs on live lobster imports from the U.S. That deal is set to expire at the end of July 2025, exposing live lobster exports to E.U. tariffs again. In its letter, NFI urged the USTR to work with the E.U. to extend the mini deal and expand its coverage to other lobster products, such as lobster tails.
NFI also wants live lobster to be excluded from the E.U.’s proposed live animal transport legislation.
“This regulation introduces new requirements that, if misapplied, will end transatlantic exports of live lobster and crab,” NFI stated. “Should any of that happen, trade of live lobsters between the U.S. and the E.U. will cease, depriving lobstermen of yet another major market.”
NFI hopes the USTR can secure confirmation from E.U. counterparts that the new regulation won’t impact live shellfish transportation.
NFI is also seeking reforms in Japan, where regulations require inspections of all live lobster imports. Those inspections can delay shipments by 20-40 hours, according to NFI, increasing lobster mortality risks and “making it nearly impossible for U.S. exporters to compete in this market. Canadian lobster exports to Japan do not face those restrictions.
The NFI also documented various trade barriers in Brazil and Indonesia that hamper U.S. exporters and importers.
The American pollock sector also raised concerns with unfair trade practices …
