Canada drops seafood from retaliatory tariff list, easing industry concerns
The Canadian government removed fish and seafood products from its counter-tariff schedule, a move welcomed by East Coast processors who feared a 25% levy would cripple operations.
In response to new U.S. tariffs, Canada unveiled a sweeping set of counter-tariffs, then swiftly amended the roster to strip fish and seafood products of a 25% charge. The adjustment, announced late Wednesday, was attributed to industry feedback and aimed to prevent severe disruption to the Atlantic fisheries sector. Leaders such as Gilles Thériault of the New Brunswick Crab Processors Association and Nat Richard of the Lobster Processors Association warned that the original duty would have rendered Canadian lobster processing economically impossible, potentially shuttering dozens of plants employing hundreds.
Kris Vascotto of the Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance highlighted that nearly every imported seafood item was initially targeted, underscoring the broad impact. While the government maintains a “dollar-for-dollar and rate-for-rate” stance toward U.S. goods, details of future measures remain unspecified.
Why it matters
The reversal prevents costly tariffs from harming a key Canadian export industry and averts a potential trade escalation.
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