China plans to slap 25 % of revenue on Canada Seafood Sector representatives in Atlantic Canada say the product is already a threat to US duties.
China on Saturday announced a revenge rate on all Chinese -made electric vehicles in response to Canada's Certics of 100 % of Canada, and 25 % on steel and aluminum.
And while 25 % of US revenue on Canada's seafood and other goods are in pause until April 2, sugar duties will be implemented on March 20 on a long list of products such as lobster, snow crab and shrimp.
In an interview on Monday, Chris Vaskoto, executive director of Nova Scotia Sea Food Alliance, described China's move as a “highly strategic hit” on the Atlantic Canadian fish and seafood sector.
“It is about to present itself as a challenge, there is no doubt,” said Vascoat. “The landscape has basically changed. This announcement is another clear demonstration that we have seen in the past few months that trade operations are a reaction.
Vascauto, whose organization represents 135 processors and ships based on the coast, said it was expected to affect prices volatility supply chain “below the harvest.”
He said that Chinese duties will kill lobster and snow shrimp as well as marine cucumber, wheels and shrimp products.
“Somehow these revenue costs will have to be absorbed so that we can keep the products transfer,” said Vascoato. “We can definitely expect enough fluctuations.”
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According to the federal government, China is Canada's second largest fish and seafood export market after the United States, in which $ 1.3 billion worth of products were sent to the Asian nation in 2024.
Federal statistics shows that in 2023, China's high exports to Canada seafood were $ 569 million, Cra 300 million lobster was lobster for $ 262 million, which is 78 % of all seafood exports to the country.
The Lobster Processors Association's Executive Director, a Mankton, a NB -based group, represents 25 processors of frozen lobster and shrimp products in New Burnsk, Nova Scotia and PI, while everyone has been “felt” directly to the international company. Richard said exports to the United States were 80 percent last year, while China accounts for three percent of China.
Nevertheless, he said that its effects would be different in individual processing plants.
“On the overall level, this frozen lobster product is a small piece of product, but for some individual plants they do a lot of business in China. Export profile varies from plants to plants.
Richard said that due to the highly integrated supply chain, US taxes are more at stake.
On March 4, the Donald Trump administration imposed a 25 % tax on all imports of Canada and Mexico, with 10 % less revenue on Canada's energy. But last week, after the market chaos, Trump has made the rules of the rules for goods, such as seafood-seafood-that the US-Canada and Mexico's free trade agreement for the next month.
Richard said most of the lobster caught by the fishermen in the mine, which is about 85 % of the US crop, is processed by Canadian plants.
“Whether we have tariffs or not, we will continue to supply the market … but obviously it is a concern that it will affect the market, it can weigh its demand.”
Meanwhile, Managing Director of Tangier Lobster Company Limited in Tangier, NS, Stewart Lamont, said that 25 % tariffs by China are the last seven percent tariff and nine percent of the country imposed in addition to an additional tax.
“It is enough to say the least, and it comes at a time when we are already being targeted under US prices,” said Lamont.
The company is located just an hour from Air Fax Stean Field International Airport, and Lemont said it has succeeded in diversifying its export markets in about 40 years. At present it sends no product to the United States and about 15 % to China.
“We have always tried to diverse and not all of our eggs are in the Chinese basket that is definitely,” he said.
However, there are companies that send most of their direct lobster to China, and Lamont said it would make matters difficult because new markets are not obtained overnight.
“All these things face time, money, marketing and creativity, so the axis is much more difficult than the people,” he said.
According to the State Council's Customs tariff commission, 100 % additional taxes will be imposed on Canada's rapid oil, oil cakes and peas, and another 25 % additional revenue will be implemented on pork and aquatic products.
And copy 2025 Press of Canada