The South Carolina Shrimpers Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to representing the interests of the state’s shrimping industry

A Tariff's Two Sides: Relief for US Shrimpers, Rising Costs Feared by Seafood Markets

UNITED STATES
Monday, April 07, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Seafood Tariff Tug-of-War: The Double-Edged Sword of Tariffs on Shrimp

CONWAY, S.C. — The Trump Administration's decision to implement tariffs on imported seafood has been met with enthusiastic applause from the American Shrimpers Association, as reported by Emma Engel from WPDE.

However, the same policy is already causing concern at local seafood markets, where owners fear the impact of rising prices on consumers.

Source: Global Finance

For local shrimpers, the imposition of tariffs on imported seafood is viewed as a significant victory. They contend that the influx of cheaper imported shrimp had long put them at a disadvantage. The new tariffs are expected to level the playing field, making locally caught shrimp more competitive.

The South Carolina Shrimpers Association issued a press release "applauding" the president's decision to implement reciprocal tariffs on imported seafood.

The United States imports a substantial 94 percent of its seafood. Bryan Jones, Vice President of the South Carolina Shrimpers Association, stated that unfair trade practices allowing imported shrimp to be sold at prices significantly below their actual production costs have severely harmed the local shrimping industry.

“Why is it being imported? Because it’s cheap. Why is it cheap? Well, it’s because they flood the markets. A lot of the times it’s subsidized by those foreign producers, meaning they are selling it for less than what it actually costs them to produce and ship it over here. Their governments are funding that, which makes it cheap and forces us to compete against that,” Jones explained.

Jones expressed the association's belief that these tariffs will safeguard the local shrimping industry and contribute to the economic health and longevity of coastal communities.

Photo: South Caroline Shrimpers Association

“We certainly understand the cost or impact it might have on families around the kitchen table when you think about prices going up,” Jones acknowledged.

Ted Hammerman, owner of Mr. Fish Market and Grill, reported that he consistently prioritizes purchasing locally sourced seafood. However, he noted that this is not always feasible due to insufficient supply.

He observed that the shrimping industry's output has diminished compared to previous years.

“Shrimp, especially, is our number one seller. If it becomes a luxury item, as it was in the 60s and 70s when there were no other suppliers than local ones, it will be great for the local shrimpers but could negatively impact places like Myrtle Beach, where there are 4,000 restaurants with shrimp on virtually every plate,” Hammerman explained, highlighting the potential strain on businesses reliant on affordable and readily available shrimp.

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