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CBC
18-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Boston seafood show giving P.E.I. sellers a chance to tout products in the face of tariffs
Members of the P.E.I. seafood industry are attending the Seafood Expo North America in Boston as they look to expand their horizons in international markets in response to the U.S. tariff situation. This three-day exposition, collectively known as the Boston Seafood Show, is the largest of its kind in North America. It gives thousands of buyers and suppliers in the industry the chance to network and make deals. P.E.I. Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture Minister Zack Bell, who is attending the expo, said a lot of the discussions with U.S. representatives sounded the same. "The big resounding thing that everybody is saying [is] no one wants tariffs. No one wants them. The Americans don't want them. We don't want them," the minister said. The P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association estimates P.E.I. exported about $324 million worth of seafood products to the U.S. in 2023, making it an important market for the province. After U.S. President Donald Trump first threatened to impose punishing tariffs against Canada, former premier Dennis King assembled Team P.E.I., composed of two dozen government officials and industry leaders, and hopped on a bus for a five-day road trip through the northeastern U.S. to talk about what tariffs would mean. At the time, it was reported that the trip was expected to cost taxpayers $250,000. CBC News requested a breakdown of the costs and is awaiting a response from the provincial government. Bell was present on that trip, and is now back in Boston. "We've been telling our suppliers and our producers [to] continue those conversations with the Americans, but at the same time explore those different markets," the minister said. "If tariffs do come in, then we do want our companies to try to diversify their markets to the extent that they can." Bell said his biggest surprise has been the number of Canadians approaching P.E.I. businesses at the Boston show. As much as the industry has been trying to push into non-U.S. international markets, he feels these discussions are important. "In Canada, we don't eat probably near enough seafood. And that's really what we want to try to push out… buy local, buy often." Since Trump launched the trade war, many Islanders have started buying more locally. Some retailers are more heavily promoting Canadian products to encourage that.
CBC
06-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Island businesses will be looking to diversify as tariffs threaten U.S. market
Island exporters want an end to U.S. tariffs, and hope market pressure will turn the tide 2 hours ago Duration 2:28 Some Prince Edward Island business groups say their members are looking to diversify as U.S. tariffs come into effect. The economic dependency of Canadian and American economies has been an "eye-opener," said Bianca McGregor, chief executive officer of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce. "It was nice to see that both levels of government are already thinking about ways that they can support small business in that export diversification and in that export model," she said. The provincial government announced the first phase of its tariff response plan on Tuesday, with measures including doubling trade missions to find new markets for P.E.I. products, providing financial support for businesses to market and advertise, and giving loans during the adaptation period. "People are looking at diversifying not just their exports, but their inputs as well," McGregor said. While businesses are working on that, she said it's important to remember that the process takes time. "There are going to be some things on the shelves that aren't Canadian-made and that's OK. They'll start moving accordingly," she said. Prince Edward Islanders weigh in on U.S. tariff uncertainty 5 hours ago Duration 1:33 Market diversification is a strategy used by all businesses, and the seafood industry is no different, said Bob Creed, executive director of the P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association. But he warns it's not as simple as just finding a new willing buyer. The volume and the quantity that we deal with with the U.S. is not easily just transported somewhere else in the world. "You have to find the transportation logistics to get the product there. And the volume and the quantity that we deal with with the U.S. is not easily just transported somewhere else in the world," he said. Creed said it takes time to build new relationships, but the seafood industry is committed to doing it. Meanwhile, he takes heart from comments made this week by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce suggesting that perhaps changes may be made to the tariff situation. "We are hoping, quite honestly, that this tariff situation is short-lived and that the political leaders of our country and of the U.S. can find that common ground being referenced and that… cooler heads and common sense will prevail." Some of the relationships with companies and customers in the U.S. have been 30 to 40 years in the making, Creed pointed out. "We have a very close integrated relationship not only on sales, but also on just business operations with the U.S.," he said. Relationships with U.S. still a priority Both the seafood industry and the potato industry have business ties with companies and customers in the U.S. that span generations. "Our number-one priority… even with the tariffs, is to maintain those relationships and maintain that business," said Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board. "It's not an issue between our shippers and their customers and that relationship. It's with the administration," he said, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump and his officials. Donald said customers in the U.S. also want to continue their relationship and generally do not support the tariffs, so he thinks pressure from the farm industry and consumers south of the border might help get the tariffs removed. But in the meantime, word of funding for P.E.I. trade missions to visit potential new customers is welcome, Donald said.
