B.C.’s seafood export sector is still benefiting from demand for product, despite China hitting it with 25 per cent tariffs back in March.
That’s according to the executive director of the BC Seafood Alliance.
“There are some vessels that have chosen to tie up and wait this out,” said Christina Burridge. “But most, I think, are of the view that some money is better than none.”
The price at which fishermen sell their products to China has dropped between 25 and 50 per cent, reflecting that Chinese customers are not paying those tariffs—instead, local fishermen are absorbing the costs by selling for less, said Burridge.
Chinese tariffs on Canadian seafood exports went into effect March 20. This came after Canada imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminium.
The Fisheries Council of Canada warned on March 11 the Chinese tariffs would bring “catastrophic” impacts to fishing operations across the country, especially amid the prospect of simultaneous U.S. tariffs on seafood that were expected to be implemented April 2.
U.S. tariffs on Canadian seafood were not implemented in the end because of their eligibility under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
But that uncertainty led U.S. customers to purchase and stock up on more B.C. fish this season, said Burridge.
“Prices are fairly decent at the moment,” she said. “We do not know what will happen on July the third, or whenever the president next changes his mind.”
The B.C. halibut season opened in early March. And the primary market for the halibut—75 per cent—is along the I-5 corridor, between Vancouver and San Diego, Burridge said.
Geoduck is among the products hit hardest by Chinese tariffs, with B.C. fishermen exporting 95 percent of their geoduck catch to China, according to Burridge.
B.C.’s geoduck exports in 2023 were valued at $74 million, according to a B.C. government seafood sector snapshot.
Of the $1.6 billion worth of total seafood exports from B.C. that year, the U.S. accounted for 47 per cent of exports or $747 million in sales. This was followed by China with 25 per cent or $398 million in sales.
Dungeness crab exports were also hit hard, said Burridge. Crabs were B.C.’s second highest exported species by wholesale value at $224 million in 2023, according to the province’s report.
B.C. sea urchins, sea cucumbers and spot prawns also have a significant presence in China, said Burridge, who added the Chinese consumer economy for seafood is not in great shape at the moment, and some prices might have dropped regardless.
Japan used to be a substantial market for B.C. seafood, but over the last 15 years, China has been prepared to pay higher prices, she said. B.C. seafood producers are expected to diversify into Japan this year amid trade uncertainties. However, prices for these products will be lower than those for Chinese customers, said Burridge.
Japan was B.C.’s third-biggest client for seafood in 2023, responsible for $55 million in sales that year, according to the B.C. report.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Monday the federal government would work urgently on removing 25-per-cent Chinese tariffs on Canadian agriculture and seafood products.
Burridge said her organization was thrilled with the announcement.
“This is all positive,” she said. “That said, I'm not sure that I'm optimistic for a quick resolution.”
—With files from Nelson Bennett and the Canadian Press
