New US-EU Trade Agreement Removes Tariffs on US Seafood, Lobster

The United States and European Union unveiled a new trade agreement on August 21 that will eliminate EU tariffs on US industrial goods, including seafood, and expand market access for American seafood, agriculture and lobster products.

The deal will see the European Union eliminate all tariffs on US industrial goods and provide “preferential” market access to a “wide range” of US Seafood and agricultural goods. The statement also said the framework included an extension of a deal, which expired on July 31, that eliminated EU tariffs on US...

The Retail Rundown: Retailers See Early Back-to-School Spending Amid Price Concerns

While some students are already back in class, others are squeezing in the last stretch of summer before Labor Day. Either way, grocers are bracing for busy aisles as parents juggle back-to-school supplies and grocery lists. This week’s ads highlight plenty of lunchbox staples, including snacks and deli items. 

The National Retail Federation (NRF) reports that two-thirds of shoppers had already begun back-to-school purchases by early July, with more than half starting earlier than last year. Concerns about higher prices linked to tariffs...

Ecuador’s Shrimp Sector Still Facing $20 Million Monthly Tariff Burden Even with Rate Advantage

Even with the lowest US tariff rate among leading shrimp importers, Ecuador’s shrimp industry faces a hefty $20 million monthly tariff cost, posing serious challenges for the sector, according to the country’s National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA).

Ecuador was the second-largest supplier of shrimp to the US, exporting 412 million pounds worth $1.28 billion, per the CNA. Between January and June 2025, the country shipped 296 million pounds of product valued at $867 million...

Thai Union Sees Record Margin Gains, Will Leverage Global Footprint Amid 19% US Tariff

Thai Union Group announced its gross profit margin (GPM) reached an all-time quarterly high of 19.7% in Q2, along with a record for the first half of the year at 19.3%.

The company said its results reflected “exceptional resilience and continued growth in profitability” via the record-high GPM, as its earnings per share saw an 18% growth.

The GPM record was linked to a favorable product mix and raw material costs.

The group posted Q2 2025 sales...

Indian Seafood Producer Applauds UK Trade Pact, Foresees Export Surge for Shrimp

Indian seafood firm Kings Infra applauded the recent trade deal between India and the United Kingdom as it will lead to duty-free access for India’s seafood exports to the UK.

The company said the move will benefit exporters and boost trade volumes. Kings Infra pointed out that frozen fish ands shrimp products, processed seafood and fishmeal and fish-based ingredients will all benefit from the increased market access to the UK.

“This FTA is a landmark moment for Indian aquaculture. Duty-free access...

FMI 2025 Report Highlights Food Industry Shifts Amid Consumer, Economic and Supply Chain Pressures

The Food Industry Association (FMI) has released its 76th annual report, “The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2025,” offering a look into how the industry is advancing as the modern grocery experience continues to evolve.  

The report highlights strategies adopted by food retailers and suppliers, as they adapt to the shifting expectations of consumers, supply chain challenges, and economic pressures.  

Bracing for continued disruptions  

According to the report, about 80% of food retailers and suppliers expect trade policies and tariffs to affect pricing and...

Canadian Seafood Escapes Trump’s 35% Tariff, According to Multiple Reports on USMCA Exemptions

Key Canadian seafood exports will be exempt from President Donald Trump’s newly imposed 35% tariff on Canadian goods, according to multiple reports from CBC, The Wall Street Journal and Yahoo Finance.

While Trump’s tariff announcement last week sparked uncertainty over whether critical species like salmon, crab and lobster would be affected, officials confirmed that products compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will remain tariff-free.

The question of whether seafood would be faced with a 35% tariff rate followed the release of Trump’s tariff...

TCRS’s Annual Shrimp Summit Underscores Industry Promise Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Around 500 shrimp experts and industry stakeholders recently gathered in-person and online to participate in The Center for Responsible Seafood’s (TCRS) annual Shrimp Summit, which was held in Bali from June 22-26.

During the event, attendees explored the latest trends and technologies and the potential for shrimp industry growth down the line.

A critical concern expressed by attendees was tariffs and their impact on global markets, as cited by 100% of respondents surveyed during the Summit’s first session.

“Challenging economic conditions and market uncertainty made it even more..."

Trump Announces US Trade Deal With Vietnam, Including 20% Import Tariff

President Trump announced that the United States has agreed to a new trade deal with Vietnam on July 2.

Trump stated that Vietnam will pay the US a 20% tariff on all goods exported to the U.S. and a 40% tariff on transshipped goods. The higher 40% tariff targets products that are not originally made in Vietnam but are routed through the country to bypass higher tariffs. This move is significant, as many countries have used Vietnam as a transit point to avoid stricter trade penalties aimed at Chinese...

Study Finds 61% of US Consumers are Scaling Back on Restaurants, Spending Less on Groceries 

As tariffs and inflation continue to impact consumers, Americans are spending less on food. According to Popmenu, which currently serves over 10,000 restaurants, 67% of consumers are scaling back their budgets.  

The nationwide study tracked the dining and spending habits of 1,000 people 21 and older from June 16 to June 17, 2025. When asked to name the areas where they are cutting back the most, restaurants landed the number one spot, with 61% saying they are eating out less and staying in...

Seven Vietnamese Pangasius Exporters Exempt from US Anti-dumping Duties

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced that seven Vietnamese pangasius producers will be exempt from anti-dumping tariffs following its 20^th administrative review on frozen fillets imported from Vietnam into the US.

According to a Federal Register notice, Bien Dong Seafood Joint Stock Company did not sell frozen pangasius fillets in the US at prices below normal value. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said this makes Bien Dong eligible for a 0% tax rate.

Alongside Bien Dong...

Commerce Secretary Lutnick Addresses Maine Lobster Tariffs, Promises Science-Backed Regulations

Last week, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick weighed in on pressing concerns for Maine's lobster industry, including US-Canada lobster tariffs and promising a commitment to "gold standard science" in future federal regulations impacting the state's staple seafood.

Lutnick went so far as to call the industry an “American treasure” that should be protected.

During the hearing, Lutnick was questioned by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who highlighted how intertwined Canada and Maine are, noting the impact of tariffs on lobster, which is primarily processed in Canada, along with other...

ANALYSIS: U.S. Shrimp Import April 2025 Market Review

Executive Summary

Expana's April shrimp import analysis shows strong volume growth alongside rising prices, creating a situation that looks eerily similar to 2022 when the market faced oversupply issues. Import volumes are up significantly, but demand absorption appears limited, pointing to potential margin pressure ahead as importers rush to beat the July tariff deadline.

In this report:

            1. FORECAST PERFORMANCE VS. ACTUAL FIGURES
            2. IMPORT BREAKDOWN BY PRODUCT FORM
            3. SUPPLIER COUNTRY DYNAMICS
            4. PEELED PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
            5. HELL-ON MARKET SURGE
            6. COOKED SHRIMP MOMENTUM
            7. MARGIN AND...

Japan: Uncertainty Over Frozen Scallop Exports to the U.S. Amid Trump Tariffs 

On May 27, Yasuhisa Kasai, a counselor at the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, gave a speech on scallop production trends at the National Scallop Major Auction Houses and Shippers Trading Conference. He emphasized that the future of frozen scallops, which have been exporting well to the United States, is "uncertain" as exporters are in a wait-and-see state due to the Trump tariff issue.  

The Hokkaido government's scallop landing plan for fiscal 2025 (April 2025-March 2026) is 336,498...

Canadians Focused on Economy in Today’s Federal Election; Stakes High in Seafood Industry

The federal election in Canada will end tonight with final ballots cast no later than 7 p.m. local time in British Columbia. This comes after a month-long campaign marked by a rare flip in the polls, as voters reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ‘retaliatory’ tariff policy against Canadian goods and a threat to annex the nation as the 51st state.

In early January, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would be stepping down in March. At that time, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative party had a...

SENA 2025: Lineage Logistics Addresses Food Waste, Tariffs, and FSMA Rule 204

During the Seafood Expo North America (SENA) 2025, Expana had the opportunity to sit down with Michael Bowman and Ron Margulis of Lineage Logistics and chat about the cold storage company’s ongoing efforts to streamline processes, increase traceability, and eliminate food waste, especially as the global supply chain faces U.S. tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, as well as the upcoming implementation of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Rule 204.

When asked about the economic turbulence that has been impacting the supply chain lately, Bowman, who is Vice...

Scottish Salmon Exports on Track to Hit Record £1 Billion on Strong US, Asian Growth

Scottish salmon exports could reach the £1 billion ($1.4 billion) mark for the first time ever by the end of the year, according to Salmon Scotland.

Salmon Scotland noted that the latest data shows that salmon exports rose by 33% to £941 million in the rolling 12 months through June.

The group, which represents the farmed salmon sector in Scotland, said the data comes just as the country will be able to tap into the Indian market following...

Trump’s New 50% Tariff on India Threatens Shrimp Exports to the US

India, the United States' top shrimp supplier, now faces a 50% tariff.

President Donald Trump levied an additional 25% tariff on India, just days after he imposed a 25% tariff on the country, as Expana reported.

“I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” Trump said in an August 6 executive order.

The move serves as a penalty on India for purchasing Russian oil. It is now one of the highest rates of all US trading partners...

The Winding Glass: $1 Billion Tariff Hit to Shrimp Industry Will Lead to Downturn in 12 Months

The US has finalized, for now, tariff rates on the major shrimp-importing countries, and the industry is preparing for a period of significantly higher costs. 

In this column, we look back at other periods when shrimp prices rapidly rose 20% or more to predict what the longer-term impact will be on our industry and customers. 

Things don’t look good.  

We calculated tariff impacts by using full year 2024 values for the major types of shrimp imports, shell-on...

Canadian Trade Union Unifor Urges Action on US and China Seafood Tariffs

Canadian trade union Unifor highlighted its concerns regarding two critical tariff threats on Canadian seafood. Most notably, US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada and China’s tariffs on Canadian fishery products.

The trade union stated that its members, including those from the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) in Newfoundland and Labrador, the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union (UFAWU) in British Columbia, and the broader Canadian fishing industry, are facing genuine threats to their livelihoods.

The union noted that although the US tariffs...

Brazil Seafood Association Sounds Alarm Over Job Losses, Export Hit From US Tariffs

Brazil’s seafood industry is already feeling the fallout from President Donald Trump’s newly imposed 50% tariffs, warned Jairo Gund, executive director of the Brazilian fishing industry association (ABIPESCA), in a recent interview on local television.

The newly imposed 50% tariff created a massive headwind for Brazilian seafood exports to the US, as Expana reported earlier this month.

Abipesca highlighted that the tariffs would lead to significant losses for the aquaculture sector...

The Winding Glass: Seafood Trade Disruptions Reappear While Economic Headwinds Drive Prices Down

The economic collapse that many of us feared from the chaotic tariff policies of the Trump administration has not materialized—at least not yet. The seafood industry has shown a remarkable degree of resilience in the face of disruptive trade policy. But this should not be mistaken for invulnerability. The more pressing issue now is not tariffs but weakening consumer demand.

There are three reasons the anticipated tariff-induced disaster hasn’t occurred. First, there’s a deep political bias baked into how people perceive economic risks...

ANALYSIS: Front-Loading Frenzy; May Shrimp Imports Increase 14.6% YTD on Tariff Deadline

Executive Summary

May shrimp import data reveals continued strong volume growth accompanied by rising replacement costs, creating a challenging market dynamic. While imports exceeded expectations across most categories, the combination of higher volumes, elevated costs, and front-loading ahead of tariff implementation, suggests significant inventory accumulation. The market faces a fundamental paradox: imports and costs are both rising, yet U.S. demand remains tepid, pointing to inevitable margin compression as the industry struggles to absorb higher costs across the supply chain without proportional demand...

ANALYSIS: Thai Tuna Exports by Country and the Factors Influencing Prices

The Expana Benchmark Prices (EBP) for Thai skipjack tuna saw a decline of around $150 per metric ton (mt) in May, accounting for a decrease of 8.8% month-on-month. The whole frozen skipjack tuna market saw a notable drop in May as canning factories reduced their purchasing activities due to uncertainties surrounding potential tariffs on tuna exports to the US. In addition to enhanced landing levels in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, these have contributed to overall downward price pressure.

Recent shifts in...

India Seeks US Tariff Revisions on Shrimp Ahead of Key Trade Talks

As the United States and India push towards a new trade agreement, India is keeping a close eye on how the US Department of Commerce (DOC) handles countervailing duties (CVD) and anti-dumping duties (ADD) on shrimp imports from India, according to Indian business publication mint.

The paper reported that India may lower its duties on shrimp imports from the US if the US revises its own duties on Indian shrimp. The publication’s sources said revisions would help resolve current disputes hampering current trade negotiations...

Commerce Secretary Lutnick: US-China Trade Deal Framework Finalized

United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that the US and China have agreed to a trade framework after two days of negotiations in London. 

After what reports described as “intense negotiations,” Lutnick told reporters that the framework builds upon an agreement made last month to ease triple-digit retaliatory tariffs. 

 In a social media post on June 11, President Trump said that a deal with China was done and called the trade relationship with China “excellent.” However, further details regarding the deal were not made public...

US Issues Record-High Preliminary Decision on Anti-Dumping Tariffs on Vietnamese Shrimp 

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has hit two dozen of Vietnam’s shrimp exporters with a record-high preliminary anti-dumping tax rate of 35.29%.  

The preliminary decision is based off the Department’s 19th administrative review on anti-dumping duties for frozen warmwater shrimp imported from Vietnam, which ran from February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024.  

The DOC named Seafood Joint Stock Company (STAPIMEX) and Thong Thuan Company Limited (Thong Thuan) as mandatory respondents. It was determined that STAPIMEX sold...

USTR Extends China Section 301 Tariffs for Certain Seafood Products 

The US Trade Representative (USTR) has extended tariff exclusions on certain seafood products from China through the end of August.  

The exclusions were previously scheduled to expire on May 31 but have now been extended through August 31.  

Tariffs related to the Section 301 Investigation of China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation first began under the Trump Administration in 2018 and 2019 in an effort to stop the country’s unfair trade practices. A range of seafood items from China were hit with...

SSA Calls for Commerce Dept. to Investigate Ecuador Shrimp Industry’s Alleged Illegal Practices

As the tectonic shifts in U.S. trade policy are being felt by countries that have provided the U.S. consumer with high-demand goods, U.S. producers of these goods see opportunities for relief from competition and growing markets for their product.

The U.S. demand for shrimp — imported and domestic — presents an opportunity for domestic shrimp producers to expand their market while building protections against future trade conflicts and exposing alleged violations of trade practices in foreign countries. 

Ecuador, the world’s second largest exporter of shrimp to the U.S...

Southern Shrimp Alliance Celebrates Trump’s Executive Order to Strengthen American Seafood Industry

The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) recently released a statement applauding President Trump’s executive order “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” which he signed on April 17.

According to the SSA, the action directly confronts the existential threats currently facing the U.S. domestic shrimp industry including unfair trade practices, imported shrimp that is unsafe or linked to forced labor practices, and regulatory imbalances. The Alliance added that foreign competitors do not have to face the same regulations or economic and logistic barriers as U.S. shrimpers...