China imposes 25% tariffs on Canadian seafood

CHINA – China is set to introduce a 25% tariff on fish and seafood imports from Canada starting March 20 in retaliation for levies Canada introduced in October on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum products.

According to industry leaders, this decision will cause severe financial strain.

Data from China’s General Administration of Customs shows that Canada shipped 110,000 tons of seafood to China in 2024, a 5% drop from the previous year. 

The total value of these exports also fell by 5%, reaching US$1.3 billion.

The planned tariffs could significantly reduce the flow of Canadian northern shrimp, frozen and live crabs into the Chinese market. 

This shift may create opportunities for Russian seafood suppliers, especially if their Far Eastern flounder catch improves.

Despite this, Canada’s shipments of frozen pollock, Far Eastern salmon, and Pacific herring to China remain relatively small when compared to Russia’s export volumes. 

In 2024, Russian seafood exports to China declined by 13% in volume, amounting to 1.1 million tons, while revenue dropped by 5% to US$2.7 billion.

Industry Warns of Severe Consequences

The Fisheries Council of Canada has expressed serious concerns about the impact of these tariffs, particularly for businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

The industry is already dealing with U.S. trade restrictions, and the additional Chinese duties could further destabilize operations.

Alberto Wareham, president of Icewater Seafoods Inc. and chair of the Fisheries Council of Canada, described the situation as devastating for many exporters. 

He pointed out that some fisheries rely almost entirely on Chinese buyers, making the new tariffs a major threat to their survival.

He added that other key seafood products from Newfoundland and Labrador, including sea cucumber and cold-water shrimp, will also be affected by China’s decision.

A full analysis of these developments is available in the report Russian-Chinese Trade in Fish and Seafood: Results of 2024, compiled by the Analytical Center of the Fish Union.