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EU Threatens Tariffs on US Seafood Amid Trade Tensions

EUROPEAN UNION
Thursday, May 15, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

European Commission unveils a list of US goods, including salmon, pollock, and cod, that could face retaliatory tariffs if negotiations with Washington fail to resolve ongoing trade disputes.

Brussels, Belgium – The European Commission has escalated its stance in ongoing trade disputes with the United States by publishing a list of American goods that could be subjected to retaliatory tariff measures should negotiations with Washington prove unsuccessful. Notably, the list includes key seafood exports from the US, such as salmon, pollock, cod, crab.

The comprehensive list, now open for public consultation on the European Commission's website, encompasses imported products from the United States valued at 95 billion euros. This potential imposition of new duties on American goods is widely viewed as a direct response to existing and potential tariffs originating from the United States, including those implemented during the previous US administration's trade tensions, according to international reports. The proposal outlines additional duties on approximately 110 distinct items.

As reported by Fishnews, the targeted product categories specifically impacting the seafood sector are extensive. They include live, fresh, chilled, frozen, smoked, canned, dried, and ground preparations of various species, such as salmon, cod, herring, mackerel, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, and even jellyfish. The estimated total value of these listed seafood goods amounts to 500 million euros.

The public consultation period is slated to continue until June 10, providing stakeholders with an opportunity to voice their perspectives before the European Commission finalizes the list of goods subject to potential tariffs. The earliest possible implementation of these duties is July 8, taking into account the 90-day pause previously announced by the US President regarding certain trade actions. The potential for significant tariffs on US seafood exports to the EU introduces a new layer of uncertainty for the transatlantic seafood trade.

editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

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