Trump nominee vows to keep NOAA intact, stop “communist fish” from entering US

Howard Lutnick, U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Department of Commerce
Howard Lutnick, U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Department of Commerce, at his confirmation hearing | Photo courtesy of U.S. Congress
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U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Department of Commerce Howard Lutnick told U.S. senators at his confirmation hearing that he would not dismantle NOAA and would work to protect American fishers.

Under questioning from lawmakers, Lutnick said that he looked forward to working with the president in implementing tariffs to gain respect from foreign nations.

“I think our farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen are treated with disrespect,” Lutnick said. “Countries take advantage of American kindness and gratitude to rebuild the world after World Wars and after the Korean War and the Vietnam War. We need that disrespect to end, and I think tariffs are a way to create reciprocity, to be treated fairly, to be treated appropriately. I think it will help our farmers, ranchers, and fishermen to flourish."

Trump has threatened massive tariffs on some of the United States’ largest trading partners, including a 25 percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico. Trump’s tariff threats have led to uncertainty in the U.S. economy and concern from some in the seafood industry, where the tariffs could impact USD 5.6 billion (EUR 5.3 billion) worth of seafood products.

In his testimony, Lutnick said the tariffs on Canada and Mexico would not be ordinary tariffs but a tool to force Canada and Mexico to close their borders to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

“This tariff model is simply to shut their borders with respect – Respect America. If we are your biggest trading partner, show us the respect. Shut your border and end fentanyl coming into this country. So, it is not a tariff, per se; it is an action of domestic policy,” Lutnick said during his 29 January hearing. “This is a separate tariff to create action from Mexico and action from Canada, and as far as I know, they are acting swiftly, and if they execute it, there will be no tariff. And if they don’t then there will be.”

Lutnick also denied any interest in dismantling NOAA, privatizing parts of it, or relegating its responsibilities to state agencies one of the proposals in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 policy blueprint, which had been tied to Trump throughout his 2024 campaign.

“It is not part of my agenda,” he said.

During his questioning, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) called on Lutnick to be a leader in America’s fishing sector.

“I love to fish, and I am happy to commit to you,” Lutnick said. “The fishermen of the United States of America are one of our great assets, and it’s easy for me to promise to take care of them.”

Sullivan also asked for Lutnick to support the government’s ongoing ban on Russian-origin seafood, a policy that Sullivan pursued for multiple years, and to oppose seafood imports from China.

“I want you to commit to me to promote American ‘freedom fish,’ Alaska ‘freedom fish,’ and don't allow communist fish from Russia and China coming into our markets,” Sullivan said.

“We’ve got to get rid of those communist fish,” Lutnick responded with a laugh.


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