Already hit by China, Nova Scotia's seafood sector braces for upcoming U.S. tariffs

Keith Doucette · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Mar 30, 2025 10:23 AM EDT | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago

Nova Scotia's lucrative seafood manufacture is bracing for marketplace upheaval arsenic it deals with the effects of tariffs imposed by China and awaits an identical 25 per cent work from the United States.

China's tariffs connected Canadian seafood took effect March 20, portion the U.S. duties are expected to footwear successful Wednesday.

Stewart Lamont, managing manager of Tangier Lobster Company Ltd., connected Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore, said the lobster assemblage is "incredibly anxious" arsenic it waits to spot however prices are affected. Lamont's institution exports unrecorded lobster to 13 countries astir the world.

"People are nervous," helium said successful an interrogation Friday. "We person received much calls than mean from dealers connected whether we would beryllium funny successful buying lobster from them this spring."

Lamont said request is presently precocious contempt China's tariffs due to the fact that of a deficiency of lobster connected the marketplace up of the upcoming outpouring seasons.

"There are not truthful galore lobsters disposable and the immense bulk are not going to China, a fig person gone to America earlier imaginable tariffs footwear successful connected April 2," helium said, adding determination has besides been immoderate involvement from buyers successful Europe, elsewhere successful Asia and the Middle East.

But Lamont said the wharf terms for lobster, which presently sits astir $15 per pound, is apt to driblet erstwhile the U.S. tariffs are successful spot and caller catches are landed by fishers expanding supply. Spring seasons statesman successful areas specified arsenic Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore and Newfoundland's westbound seashore connected April 20.

"So we expect a terms accommodation down from $15 eventually, and alternatively significantly," helium said.

According to the national government, China is Canada's 2nd largest food and seafood export marketplace aft the U.S., with $1.3 cardinal successful products shipped to the Asian federation successful 2024.

Nova Scotia authorities figures for 2024 amusement 52 per cent, oregon $1.2 cardinal of the province's seafood, was exported to the U.S., portion different 26 per cent oregon $614 cardinal successful exports went to China. Lobster unsocial accounted for $541.8 cardinal successful exports to the U.S. and $458.7 cardinal to China.

Crab concerns

Meanwhile, Osborne Burke, wide manager of Cape Breton-based seafood processor Victoria Co-operative Fisheries Ltd., said the pending U.S. tariffs are peculiarly concerning to the crab fishery due to the fact that of the dense reliance connected the marketplace southbound of the border.

Burke said helium took a telephone telephone Friday from a seafood broker who advised him that the terms of crab would beryllium 25 per cent little if the U.S. goes ahead, meaning a terms driblet of astir $2.25 cents a pound. Fishers are presently getting astir $6 a pound.

"It volition person a important impact," helium said.

The crab play disconnected northeastern Cape Breton is underway, portion Burke's institution is waiting for the fishery to commencement successful the Gulf of St. Lawrence connected Tuesday, and successful waters disconnected the bluish extremity of the land connected April 10.

He said the crab manufacture needs to proceed enactment to diversify its markets, though a important displacement won't hap successful the contiguous future.

"We are looking astatine 3 to 5 years," helium said of his company. "We are typically 35 per cent successful Canada and 65 per cent oregon truthful successful the U.S. and I'd similar to reverse those percentages."

Crab is different of Nova Scotia's largest exports, with the immense bulk — $158 cardinal worthy — shipped to the U.S. marketplace past year, portion different $16 cardinal went to China.

Other important seafood exports from the state see scallop, halibut, clams, shrimp and oversea cucumber, a niche merchandise that chiefly goes to China.