Latest news with #B.C.SeafoodAlliance
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Seafood producers doubtful B.C. trade mission will lessen immediate toll of China's tariffs
British Columbia Premier David Eby will lead a trade mission to Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia next month amid U.S. and Chinese tariffs. "Diversifying our markets away from these two gigantic markets and working with other markets is a priority for us and that's what we're going to continue to do," Eby said in an announcement on Wednesday. However, seafood industry insiders say it won't do much to help B.C. seafood producers make up for the hit they've taken in the wake of tariffs imposed by China earlier this year. China imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian seafood — including geoduck, lobster and shrimp — on March 20 in retaliation to Canada's tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum, and electric vehicles. Christina Burridge, executive director of the B.C. Seafood Alliance, says the province's seafood industry relies on exporting to China, and business relationships there will be hard to replace. "It's not easy to see how we could replace China in less than five to 10 years," Burridge said. "Most of our customers are not willing to pay the tariffs themselves, so they expect us on this side to pay them, or most of them at least." Eby said the trade mission, which will take place from June 1 to 10, will look to expand investment and trade relationships in sectors affected by tariffs, including forestry, clean energy, liquefied natural gas, and agriculture. China is the second largest market for B.C. seafood producers after the U.S., Burridge said, purchasing roughly $400 million of seafood from the province annually. For seafood producers to stay competitive, she says, they've had to pay the tariffs themselves instead of passing them on to customers, in some cases lowering prices to 50 per cent below pre-tariff value. "At best, they're breaking even, they're not making any money," said Burridge, adding that these producers are having to choose between some business with China or no business with China. "It's been quite difficult and some vessels have chosen to tie up." B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said that while he doesn't agree with the Chinese government, he does think Canada and B.C. need to have a working relationship with the world's second-largest economy. "If we're being blocked by the largest economy, being the Americans, and we're ignoring the second-largest economy, that is very limiting for British Columbians to be able to grow our economy," he said. Darrell Thomas, a Vancouver Island-based geoduck harvester, say he's frustrated that small businesses like his are paying the price for the trade war between China, Canada, and the United States. Thomas is glad that B.C. is looking to diversify trade and build new business relationships, but he says that won't make up for the decades-long relationship between the province's seafood producers and buyers in China. "Maybe it'll help us in five to 10 years, but they're not going to even come close to the consumption that China does," Thomas said. "We're caught in this massive crossfire."
CBC
14-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
China's retaliatory tariffs on Canadian seafood could paralyze B.C.'s geoduck industry
Social Sharing China's intent to slap new tariffs on Canadian seafood exports has British Columbia's geoduck harvesters worried. According to a statement from China's Ministry of Finance, the new tariffs are in response to Canada's 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles and 25 per cent levy on its aluminum and steel, both implemented late last year. Seafood — including geoduck, lobster and shrimp — and pork are among the items that China will tariff at 25 per cent, while a 100 per cent tariff will be imposed on canola and peas. China's tariffs are set to take effect on March 20. The move comes amid an ongoing trade war launched by U.S. President Donald Trump last month. Geoduck harvester Darrell Thomas says China's tariffs are a blow to his already struggling business. "We're commercial divers [who] individually hand-pick each geoduck," he said. Geoducks are large saltwater clams known for their long siphon and their ability to burrow deep into the sand. WATCH | B.C. seafood faces uncertainty amid Chinese tariffs: China's new tariffs threaten B.C.'s seafood industry 11 hours ago Duration 2:06 Some Canadian businesses are bracing for a round of tariffs from China in response to Canada's tariffs against their aluminium, steel and electric cars. As Liam Britten reports, B.C.'s seafood industry says it needs help from the government to navigate choppy waters. World politics and economics have already contributed to a 22 per cent decline in how much geoduck harvesters receive from fish brokers, says Thomas. He said China's 25 per cent tariff will be difficult — and potentially impossible — to handle, estimating that the value of geoducks could drop by 50 per cent. The seafood export market to China is worth just under $300 million, and the geoduck export market to China is worth roughly $50 million, according to the B.C. Seafood Alliance. Ninety-five per cent of the province's geoduck harvest is sold to China. "Our brokers are saying that we're looking at a complete, coast-wide shutdown [of the industry] starting on the 17th of March," Thomas said. Thomas said workers and companies in his industry hope the federal government will negotiate with China to "maybe hit a pause." B.C. Seafood Alliance executive director Christina Burridge said many of the province's fisheries are in a wait-and-see situation, but some fisheries, including geoduck companies, are likely to close early this season. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) said in a statement that the government is hoping to negotiate with Chinese officials to address both countries' trade concerns. "The Government of Canada will always stand up for Canadian businesses and workers and defend them from the harmful effects of unfair trade policies," the statement said. B.C. Premier David Eby said he's urging the federal government to treat the Chinese tariffs with the same urgency as tariffs levied by the U.S. "We're going to make sure that we're supporting the seafood industry in accessing other markets," he said, adding that he is meeting with trade officials from around the world.
CBC
28-01-2025
- Business
- CBC
With U.S. tariffs looming, British Columbians urged to buy B.C. seafood
The organization that represents fishermen and processors of wild-caught British Columbia seafood says with a 25 per cent U.S. tariff looming, it's more important than ever for consumers to buy local. But even then, with over 60 per cent of all wild B.C. seafood sold in the U.S. — half a billion dollars worth — it says the campaign probably won't be enough to stave off a serious blow to the industry. "I worry very much that we would be looking at layoffs in both processing plants and for fish harvesters. We would simply have to tie up vessels because there would not be a market," said Christina Burridge, B.C. Seafood Alliance executive director. On Tuesday, a White House spokeswoman confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump intends to follow through on his tariff threat starting Feb. 1. Trump promised 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs against Mexico and Canada in response to what he called the failure of both countries to curb the illegal flow of people and drugs across the borders. B.C. Premier David Eby has also advised consumers to seek out Canadian products. "When you are at the grocery store and you have a chance to buy a product right now, [look] carefully at the labels to support Canadian jobs and to support Canada at this critical time," he said. B.C. seafood industry urges consumers to buy local as tariff deadline looms 19 hours ago Duration 1:59 Burridge went to Ottawa last Friday for urgent talks with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Agriculture Canada and Global Affairs Canada. She said expanding the Canadian market for B.C. seafood is tricky. "We would hope that people in B.C. buy more halibut and quite likely the price would be lower, which might be helpful. But I can't see selling a lot of our halibut to Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa because they have Atlantic halibut," she said. "But we'll be looking at everything that we can." Canadian officials have been cycling through Washington in recent weeks to promote Canada's $1.3-billion border security plan and make the case that tariffs would hurt both economies. The federal government and some provinces, including B.C., are also looking at relief packages to help businesses and industries affected by Trump's tariffs. The B.C. Seafood Alliance represents 5,000 workers in the sector and is responsible for the majority of commercially harvested seafood in B.C., worth almost $1 billion in annual sales, according to the association's website.
