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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with the Chinese President Xi Jinping
Crab and Lobster: Fisheries Council of Canada Statement on Canada–China Trade Announcement
CANADA
Monday, January 19, 2026, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
FCC welcomes tariff relief for crab and lobster while seeking clarity on coverage for other seafood species
Ottawa, ON – The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) welcomes the announcement resulting from the recent high-level engagement between the Government of Canada and the People’s Republic of China, confirming that crab and lobster will not be subject to the relevant anti-discrimination tariffs from March 1, 2026 through the end of the year. However, additional clarity is required regarding whether other seafood species will also be covered by these measures. The FCC and its members will continue to work closely with the Government of Canada and Chinese counterparts to confirm the full scope of the agreement.
(1).png) “The Government of Canada must work to ensure that all Canadian seafood returns to a tariff-free trading environment with China,” said FCC President Jason McLinton. “While the removal of tariffs on crab and lobster is an important first step, clarity on the treatment of other species is essential. China remains a critical and rapidly growing market for our sector, ranking as Canada’s second-largest seafood export destination after the United States.”
The FCC has been actively engaged with both the Government of Canada and the People’s Republic of China, consistently emphasizing that Canada’s seafood exporters must remain central to trade discussions. The sector has faced significant challenges from retaliatory tariffs and trade disruptions in recent years, and today’s announcement presents an opportunity to address these long-standing issues and restore stable, predictable market access for Canadian seafood products.
“Canada must continue to pursue assertive, results-oriented trade negotiations that benefit seafood harvesters across the country,” McLinton added. “At this early stage, there remains uncertainty regarding the full scope and timeline of the agreement. We look forward to enhanced consultations with both governments to confirm all elements and to achieve tangible results as quickly as possible.”
 
The FCC will continue to engage with the governments of Canada and China as trade discussions advance, working to ensure that the entire Canadian seafood sector benefits from resilient and balanced trade relationships in an evolving global economic landscape.
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