Sea cucumber and lobster from Canada

China to Impose 25% Duties on Fish and Seafood from Canada Starting March 20

CANADA
Thursday, March 13, 2025, 09:00 (GMT + 9)

Imposition of Chinese tariffs on Canadian seafood would deliver a 'crippling' blow, industry leaders warn

The Analytical Center of the Fish Union analyzed data from China’s General Administration of Customs on the supply of Canadian aquatic products to China and assessed how the upcoming tariff increase could affect the dynamics of Russian fish and seafood exports to the Chinese market.

Photo: Icewater Seafoods Inc.

In 2024, Canada supplied China with 110,000 tons of fish and seafood, a 5% decrease compared to 2023, with a value of U$D1.3 billion, also down 5% from the previous year.

Competitive Product Categories Between Russia and Canada in the Chinese Market (2024 vs. 2023):

• Cold Water Shrimp: Canada – 27,000 tons (-10%), Russia – 4,000 tons (-25%)
• Frozen Halibut: Canada – 11,000 tons (+15%), Russia – 1,600 tons (-50%)
• Live Crabs: Canada – 7,000 tons (-30%), Russia – 35,000 tons (+15%)
• Frozen Crabs: Canada – 4,000 tons (-5%), Russia – 6,400 tons (-40%)
• Frozen Flounder: Canada – 4,000 tons (+17%), Russia – 17,000 tons (-45%)
• Frozen Pollock: Canada – 1,800 tons (+56%), Russia – 483,000 tons (-12%)
• Frozen Far Eastern Salmon: Canada – 1,200 tons (5 times more), Russia – 38,000 tons (-60%)
• Frozen Herring: Canada – 1,000 tons (3 times more), Russia – 93,000 tons (-30%)

The reduction in Canadian exports of northern shrimp, frozen and live crabs to China could create favorable market conditions for Russian exporters. If the situation with the catch of Far Eastern flounders improves, Russia’s supply to China could also increase.

However, Canadian exports of certain products, such as frozen pollock, Far Eastern salmon, and Pacific herring, are relatively small compared to Russia’s shipments.

In 2024, Russia’s fish and seafood exports to China decreased by 13% in volume, totaling 1.1 million tons, and by 5% in value, amounting to $2.7 billion. For a detailed analysis of these trends, refer to the publication Russian-Chinese Trade in Fish and Seafood: Results of 2024, prepared by the Analytical Center of the Fish Union.

The Fisheries Council of Canada warns that the new tariffs on Canadian seafood entering China will devastate the industry—particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador—and compound the challenges already posed by existing U.S. tariffs.

"Some of the fisheries, some of the species that go to China, are almost exclusively going to China," Alberto Wareham, chair of the Fisheries Council of Canada and president of Icewater Seafoods Inc,  told CBC News from Arnold's Cove, N.L. on Tuesday. "The Chinese tariffs coming on top of the potential U.S. tariffs is devastating for many of our members."

Wareham further stated that other fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador, including sea cucumber and cold water shrimp, will also be affected by the Chinese tariffs.

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