Lobster industry breathes sigh of relief as tariff threat walked back for now

The Maritime lobster industry is still grappling with tariffs from China.

The ongoing threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and exports has been unpredictable. While lobster fishers are used to navigating rough waters, some say this level of uncertainty is becoming hard to navigate.

“We’re definitely watching the bottom-line more,” said Tommy Amirault, a lobster and halibut fisherman from Lower East Pubnico, N.S. “We’re watching what we’re spending on bait, what we’re spending on traps and some of those are baked in.”

Fishers like Amirault have been keeping a close eye on Canada-U.S. trade relations. The threat of a 25 per cent U.S. tariffs on seafood exports would be devastating, he said.

“I don’t know any part of the industry that can handle a 25 per cent loss,” said Amirault.

When U.S. President Donald Trump held back on imposing tariffs on the seafood industry yesterday it came as a huge relief.

“We all feel like we got a bit of a reprieve,” he said. “To kind of steady our feet again and make plans to move ahead.”

The Lobster Council of Canada has been monitoring the situation closely as well.

“Yesterday was a positive day for Canadian seafood,” said Geoff Irvine, executive director with the Lobster Council of Canada.

China’s 25 per cent tariff on Canadian seafood went into effect March 20 and that’s adding more pressure.

“Everybody has been nervous, very nervous over this whole winter, with threats and things coming on and off and then China imposing theirs (tariffs) out of the blue,” said Irvine. “People are tired and they are beat up.”

As the U.S. tariff threats loom, the lobster industry emphasizes the need to find new export markets.

For now, Amirault said the price of lobster hasn’t changed at the wharf and it’s remains around $15 per pound. However, there’s not a lot of lobster being caught right now, with poor conditions at sea, but that could all change in a few weeks time.

Amirault says many in the industry are trying not to worry and take it one day at time.

“It’s not just the tariffs,” said Amirault. “It’s the overall health of the fishery.”

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