President-elect Donald Trump has frequently expressed his strong support for tariffs. In a recent interview he can be quoted saying, "To me, the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff."

He has floated a policy of a universal tariff, a 10% or 20% rate on all imports and at least 60% on Chinese goods. These tariffs would likely raise the cost of imported seafood in the U.S., potentially reducing demand for foreign products. Additionally, Trump’s focus on “Made in America” could encourage greater U.S. investment in domestic seafood production, especially in aquaculture, to meet demand and decrease reliance on imports. However, ramping up domestic production would require considerable time and resources to reach impactful levels.



If a universal tariff is implemented, key seafood categories—such as shellfish, finfish, processed and frozen seafood, and aquaculture products—would see significant price increases in the U.S. due to heavy reliance on imports from countries like China, Norway, and Canada. These tariffs would likely drive up costs across both retail and foodservice sectors, affecting availability and consumer prices. Species such as shrimp, salmon, tilapia, crab, and lobster would be particularly impacted. Additionally, this policy could prompt reciprocal tariffs on U.S. exports, including seafood, which would harm American exporters and reduce global competitiveness.

One policy remains uncertain whether Trump will maintain or lift the current ban on Russian-origin seafood, given his complex history of both confrontational and conciliatory approaches to Russia.

Our recommendation to seafood buyers in the U.S. is to evaluate both short-term and long-term sourcing strategies with consideration for Chinese New Year and Lent.



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