Japan-UAE Trade Pact to Eliminate Japanese Seafood Tariffs

On March 5, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced the conclusion of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Within 10 years of the agreement's entry into force, Japan will raise its duty-free import rate from 98.7% to 99.9%, while the UAE will raise it from 11.5% to 96.4%. In addition to eliminating tariffs on seafood exports from Japan, Japan will also eliminate tariffs on shrimp imports from the UAE, reported Minato Shimbun...

US-Spain Seafood Trade Faces Uncertainty as Trump Threatens Sanctions Over Military Base Dispute

The key seafood trade between Spain and the United States is under potential threat as US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off all trade with Spain over the country's refusal to allow US military use of its bases for strikes on Iran.

For the seafood sector, such a move would have significant consequences. According to US Customs data compiled on Expana's Foreign Trade Data platform, Spain exported roughly 65.6 million pounds of seafood to the US in 2025, valued at over $300 million...

China Confirms 25% Tariff Removal on Canadian Lobster, Crab Effective March 1

China’s Finance Ministry confirmed on Friday that its 25% tariff on lobster and crab imports from Canada will be lifted on March 1 through the end of 2026.

The initial trade agreement between China and Canada was announced in mid-January, with an implementation target of March 1. The deal included the elimination of tariffs on snow crab and lobster, as well as on other agricultural products such as Canadian canola meal and peas.

After the deal was first announced, Geoff Irvine, the Executive Director...

The Winding Glass: Tariff Uncertainty Returns; More Damaging than Actual Tariffs

Right now, in the first week of Lent, shrimp is on sale at Walmart. Kroger is running surf-and-turf promotions. Long John Silver's brought back its $6 Shrimp Basket. White Castle has Buttermilk Shrimp Nibblers. Del Taco is pushing Jumbo Shrimp Tacos. The seafood aisle looks, briefly, like things are fine. 

They are not fine. After a 9-month period of adjusting to tariffs, the seafood industry was finding pockets of stability, allowing for normal contracting and promotion activities. These promotions were all locked in months ago an...

US Trade Policy Shifts After IEEPA Loss; Seafood, Rice Targeted in Section 301 Investigations

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the Supreme Court’s ruling against President Trump’s use of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) affects only “one element” of the administration’s trade strategy.

Greer added that the administration remains committed to implementing Trump’s trade policy, noting it was one of his core campaign messages. The administration has warned for months that if courts struck down Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, he would use “alternative tools.”

One of those tools will be to launch...

Trump Order, US‑India Statement Lock in 18% Tariff on Indian Shrimp Imports

Further details of President Trump's announcement of a US-India trade deal were revealed through a February 7 Executive Order and a joint statement confirming the removal of the 25% ad valorem tariff on India‑origin goods and an Indian reciprocal tariff of 18%.

In the EO, US President Donald Trump confirmed that, effective February 7, 2026, products imported from India will no longer be subject to the additional 25% ad valorem tariff, which was imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil...

Captain Fresh to Restart Indian Supply Chains as US-India Trade Deal Lowers Shrimp Tariff

The CEO of the India-based seafood giant Captain Fresh said the company would shift most of its sourcing back to India following its recent trade deal with the United States, according to an interview with The Times of India.

Captain Fresh founder and CEO Utham Gowda told the publication that the company has already agreed with its Indian suppliers to resume manufacturing as soon as possible. Gowda added that before the massive 50% tariff on India, the company sourced two-thirds of its products...

US-India Trade Deal Cuts Tariff to 18%, Signaling Boost for India's Shrimp Exports

The United States and India have reached a significant trade deal, confirmed by US President Donald Trump in a social media announcement on Monday. The agreement will reduce India’s reciprocal tariff on seafood imports to 18%, down from 25% previously imposed in response to India’s purchases of Russian oil.

White House officials have confirmed to multiple media outlets that the additional 25% tariff on imports of Russian oil into India will be removed. This represents a substantial adjustment from...

GSMC 2026: Sourcing Flexibility, Daypart Expansion Seen as Keys to Seafood Foodservice Resilience

A wide-ranging discussion featuring executives in the seafood foodservice sector drilled into how operators are managing tariffs, shifting dayparts and evolving menu tactics to keep seafood relevant and profitable.

Panelists included Michael Seidel, VP of procurement at Performance Food Group; Matt Livesay, chief supply chain officer at Red Lobster; Janet Duckham, chief supply chain officer at Captain D’s; and Melissa Rodriguez of Circana.

Tariffs, the panel agreed, have forced another layer of supply planning, but for many operators the shock has been manageable because “nimbleness...

GSMC 2026: Statecraft, Tariffs and a K‑Shaped Economy Set the Macro Stage for 2026

Christian Lawrence, head of cross-asset macro strategy at Rabobank, said 2026 will be shaped by intersecting “regimes” across geopolitics, the economy and markets, with inflation staying close to 3%, growth near trend, cautious Fed easing, and continued use of tariffs and industrial policy as strategic tools. “We are going through some fundamental regime shifts,” Lawrence told GSMC 2026 attendees, citing statecraft, a K‑shaped economy, and “volatility suppression” in markets as the key frames for the year ahead...

Norwegian Seafood Council Flags US Tariffs Impact, Highlights China and Salmon as Growth Drivers

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) reported that US tariffs weighed on seafood exports in the second half of 2025 but emphasized that the United States remains a vital market with strong growth potential for Norwegian seafood.

“The USA's new tariffs created a lot of noise and turmoil for Norwegian seafood exports. From being a market with record growth and an almost insatiable appetite for salmon and crab from Norway in the first half of 2025, US trade throughout the year was characterized by tariffs...

2025: A Pivotal Year Reordering Global Seafood Trade and Policy

The year 2025 marked a watershed in seafood trade and policy with transformative impacts felt across international supply chains, domestic regulations, and industry competitiveness. At the center was President Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariff regime, reshaping sourcing and pricing dynamics from shrimp to crab, while high-profile regulatory actions, from the FDA's radioactive shrimp recalls to NOAA’s Marine Mammal Protection Act import bans, reverberated through global markets. Domestically, the Trump administration launched bold initiatives, including an executive order to cut regulatory burdens and a strategic roundtable...

Invasive Species and US Tariffs Add Pressure to Brazil’s Seafood Sector

Brazil’s tilapia sector is navigating another challenge after the National Biodiversity Commission (Conabio) labeled the fish species invasive. Meanwhile, US tariffs on Brazilian seafood, including tilapia, continue to squeeze export margins, compounding uncertainties for producers.

Tilapia is a cornerstone of Brazilian aquaculture, representing a significant share of the country’s farmed fish production. However, Conabio’s recent decision to classify tilapia as an invasive species has ignited alarm among producers and government bodies. The classification signals stricter controls and potential regulatory hurdles, threatening to disrupt one of Brazil’s most vital...

NFI Supports Food Tariff Cuts, Presses for Inclusion of All Seafood in Trump Administration Plan

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) shared its approval of the Trump administration’s move to reduce tariffs on some food and agricultural products.

The NFI urged the administration to include all seafood in tariff adjustments, citing that rising costs have put it out of reach for many American families.

“This is critical to lowering consumer prices, maintaining American jobs in the seafood sector and keeping Americans healthy and fed,” NFI President & CEO Lisa Wallenda Picard said in a statement...

High Liner Q3 Adjusted EBITDA Falls 29% as Tariffs, Foodservice Softness Squeeze Margins

Value-added frozen seafood company High Liner Foods reported an Adjusted EBITDA decline in the third quarter of 2025, when compared to last year.

High Liner’s President and CEO Paul Jewer said the company faced “a combination of macroeconomic factors” which included tariffs, soft consumer sentiment and reduced foodservice traffic that led to “greater pressure on margins and volumes than anticipated.”

"We are taking targeted actions - including pricing adjustments, continuous improvement initiatives, and disciplined cost management - to help offset short-term pressures on the business,” Jewer added...

Indonesia Orders Shrimp Firms to Halt Shipments Amid FDA's New Import Certification Rules

The Indonesian government has issued a formal notice instructing shrimp packers in affected areas to halt shipments to the United States, a move prompted by multiple US detections of cesium‑137 (Cs‑137) and coming as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s new import certification requirements and Import Alert 99-52 take effect.

Market sources confirmed the notice to Expana, with suppliers from the Island of Java and Province of Lampung, on the Island of Sumatra, impacted. Sources indicated that multiple suppliers in the affected...

ACT Capital: US Seafood Revenue Rose on Pricing, Tariffs Reshaped Supply and M&A Stayed Active in 25

ACT Capital Advisors on Feb. 26 released its 2025 Seafood Industry Report, finding that US seafood market growth last year was driven largely by higher prices and premium product mixes rather than volume gains, and that trade policy and consolidation were the sector’s defining themes.

The Seattle investment bank said ready‑to‑eat and shelf‑stable formats captured incremental share and margin as consumers — especially younger buyers — shifted toward convenient, higher‑quality seafood for at‑home and on‑the‑go meals...

PEIXE BR: Brazil Reaches 1M Ton Aquaculture Milestone Despite Tariff-Driven Export Headwinds

PEIXE BR, the Brazilian Association of Fish Farming, announced that Brazil's fish farming industry grew 58.6% in 2025, reaching a landmark 1 million tons of production. During that time, tilapia saw a notable 148.2% increase in production, cementing its top spot in the country.

The results stem from the 10th edition of the Brazilian Aquaculture Yearbook 2026, which was released on February 24.

“The results presented in this 10th edition demonstrate the strength and maturity of Brazilian fish farming...

High Liner’s Sales Rise in Q4, Margins Narrow as US Seafood Tariffs Bite

High Liner Foods reported higher sales and slightly stronger volumes in the fourth quarter of 2025 but said margin pressure from US seafood tariffs, raw‑material costs and promotional activity weighed on profitability. The frozen‑seafood specialist said it expects margin improvement to return through operational initiatives, and that adjusted EBITDA growth should resume starting in Q1 2026.

"We delivered sales and volume growth in the fourth quarter and made progress across our business towards improved profitability in what remains a challenging environment...

India's Apex Frozen Foods Sees Recovery as US Tariff Cuts Fuel Export Optimism

Apex Frozen Foods, one of the largest shrimp exporters in India, signaled growing optimism for its shrimp export business following recent reductions in US tariffs, alongside continued growth in European markets and operational adjustments to diversify revenue streams.

In its Q3 2026 earnings call on February 16, the company reported a 15% year-on-year rise in quarterly revenues to INR 264 crore ($32 million), driven primarily by stronger shrimp sales to the European Union and improved price realizations...

Ecuador Pushes US Negotiations Amid Potential Shrimp Shift Back to India After Tariff Cut

Following the recent India-US trade agreement lowering shrimp tariffs, Jose Antonio Camposano, head of Ecuador's National Aquaculture Chamber, urged renewed trade negotiations with the US to safeguard the country's position in its top shrimp export market.

“This is crucial for shrimp, which accounts for 30% of our non-oil exports to that market. Taking full advantage of all negotiation opportunities is key to consolidating and expanding the space gained in that strategic destination,” Camposano wrote on social media platform X on February 2...

US Market Challenges Push Norwegian Salmon Fillet Exports Down 37%, Poland and China Surge

Norwegian seafood exports fell 3% in value at the start of 2026 compared to January last year, as the US market faced “unpredictable tariffs,” a weaker dollar, and rising competition, the Norwegian Seafood Council reports. CEO Christian Chramer pointed to lower salmon prices, reduced quotas for several wild species, and challenging market access as key factors behind the decline.

At this point last year, the US was the largest single market for Norwegian seafood. Today, the value of exports destined for the US has declined...

GSMC 2026: Wells Fargo’s Jansen Says Supply Chain Healthy as Tariffs, Trade Shifts Force Adjustments

Wells Fargo's Jeremy Jansen told Global Seafood Market Conference (GSMC) attendees that the global supply chain is generally healthy, even as tariffs and shifting trade flows prompt buyers and suppliers to adjust their sourcing and financing.

Drawing on the bank's “pressure gauge” of 15 logistics, price, labor and inventory indicators benchmarked to pre‑COVID levels, he said most signals are green: container costs that spiked above $10,000 during COVID are back in the low‑to‑mid thousands, labor tightness at ports and warehouses...

GSMC 2026: NFI General Counsel DeHaan Unpacks Seafood Tariff Policy Overhaul

Robert DeHaan, executive vice president and general counsel at the National Fisheries Institute, delivered a concise update on US tariff policy at GSMC 2026, outlining how the Trump administration implemented a year of “reciprocal tariffs” and new trade tools. 

DeHaan said today’s framework rests on four pillars. First are the reciprocal tariffs imposed on trading partners to secure leverage in negotiating non-tariff barriers. These levies range from about 10% up to 39% and, DeHaan noted, serve both as bargaining chips and...

Canada and China Reach Deal to Remove Tariffs on Lobster, Snow Crab by March 1, 2026

Canada and China have reached an initial trade agreement that will eliminate tariffs on Canadian lobster, snow crab, and select agri-food products. The agreement, announced January 16, sets a target of March 1 for China to remove retaliatory duties, reinstating market access after a steep 25% tariff hindered Canadian seafood exports.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the deal would remove trade barriers and “unlock billions of dollars in business for Canadian farmers, fish harvesters, and workers across agri-food sectors...

Winding Glass: Trump Policies of Tariff and Weak Dollar Damaged Seafood in 2025, Likely to Continue 

Tariffs and a weak dollar created artificial seafood supply shortages in the US in 2025. The result: higher prices for consumers, reduced consumption, and a reorientation of global trade flows away from America.

Supply is the ultimate driver of seafood pricing, as any boat captain landing in New Bedford, Gloucester or Maine will tell you. On days with more boats, prices are down.

The same dynamic holds at the stock level. When a population expands or contracts, it changes the...

US Seafood Industry Calls to Protect USMCA Duty-Free Trade Framework

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI)’s Director of Public Policy, Morgan Bell, delivered testimony before the US International Trade Commission this week, underscoring the essential role of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) in supporting a thriving North American seafood trade.

Speaking on behalf of the entire commercial seafood value chain — from harvesters and processors to distributors and retailers — Bell highlighted the remarkable growth in seafood exports under the USMCA since its 2019 implementation. American seafood exports to Mexico have surged 65%...

Florida Importer Netuno Sues Over Trump Tariffs, Challenges Emergency Trade Powers

Netuno USA, a Florida-based seafood importer and distributor, filed suit Nov. 5 in the US Court of International Trade, arguing that President Trump’s emergency tariff program exceeds his statutory authority and has disrupted its seafood supply chains.

The complaint was lodged against Trump, his administration, the US Trade Representative, US Customs and Border Protection and other officials. Netuno called the tariffs unconstitutional and unlawful and argued that Trump exceeded statutory and constitutional authority by using emergency powers to impose broad tariffs.

Netuno questioned Trump’s authority on tariffs...

US-China Tariff Cut Gives Short-Term Relief to Seafood Imports

The US and China reached a trade agreement that reduces a key tariff on Chinese goods and extends several reciprocal exclusions, providing immediate — albeit temporary — relief to US seafood importers and processors, who have been squeezed by higher duties.

Under the agreement, the so-called fentanyl tariff is reduced from 20% to 10%, and reciprocal tariff exclusions are extended through December 31, 2025. Separately, certain Section 301 exclusions that had been set to expire at the end of November 2025 were pushed out...

US Share of Norwegian Salmon Slips as Tariffs Push Growth Toward Asia in 2025

The United States has become a smaller share of the Norwegian salmon market in recent months as tariffs play a significant role in the market shift.

In its monthly Norwegian seafood export update, the Norwegian Seafood Council said that salmon export growth to the US has slowed down in recent months. Over the last three months, only 8% of Norwegian salmon exports were destined for the us. That number was as high as 11.5% in the first quarter of 2025. Despite this, the US remains among...